Very sad news is coming in as veteran actressHelen McCroryhas reportedly passed away. Known for her roles inPeaky Blindersand theHarry Pottermovies, the beloved performer passed away following a battle with cancer at the age of 52. The news was broken by her husband, actor Damian Lewis, in a statement posted to Twitter.
“I’m heartbroken to announce that after an heroic battle with cancer, the beautiful and mighty woman that is Helen McCrory hasdiedpeacefully at home, surrounded by a wave of love from friends and family,” the statement reads. “She died as she lived. Fearlessly. God we love her and know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives. She blazed so brightly. Go now, Little One, into the air, and thank you.”
Some of McCrory’s colleagues have been expressing their sadness over the news. In another tweet, actor Reece Shearsmith added: “Impossible to process the mighty Helen McCrory has passed. I worked with Helen on stage and of course we were lucky enough to get her in “Inside No 9”. She was always immaculate and brilliant. An unfathomable loss. RIP.”
“Heartbroken at the news that Helen McCrory has died,” saidBillco-writer Ben Willbond. “She was so so brilliant when she came to work onBill. Funny, generous, some wicked stories. I was in awe. My heart goes out to Damian and their family. Rest in peace.”
Given the popularity of the British crime drama series, McCrory is particularly well known for playing Polly Gray onPeaky Blinders, a role she’d been playing since the series debuted in 2013. She would ultimately appear in 30 overall episodes between then and 2019. The actress had other sizable roles on television as well, including parts inPenny Dreadful,Fearless, andMotherFatherSon. Last year, she appeared in the British miniseriesRoadkillwith Hugh Laurie and Pippa Bennett-Warner.
On the big screen, McCrory was originally cast as Bellatrix Lestrange, though she was forced to back out due to her first pregnancy. Helena Bonham Carter was then cast in the role, but McCrory would get her chance to join theHarry Potter franchiselater on. She was cast as Bellatrix’s sisterNarcissa MalfoyinHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, a role she reprised in the final two movies,Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 & 2.
McCrory also loved to perform on stage, which includes a starring role inThe Last of the Haussmansat the Royal National Theatre and playing Lady Macbeth at the Little Angel Theatre. Her theater work has also earned her prominent award nominations for roles inUncle Vanya,As You Like It, andTrelawny of the ‘Wells’. Additionally, McCrory narrated poetry forThe Love Book App, which offered an anthology of love literature.
Survivors include McCrory’s husband, Damian Lewis, with whom she’d been married since 2007; a daughter, Manon; and a son, Gulliver. Our condolences go out to them and the rest of the family and friends mourning the painful loss at this difficult time. May she rest in peace asDamian Lewis on Twitter.
