Helen McCrory, the award-winning ‘Peaky Blinders’ actress who also appeared in the ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘James Bond’ film franchises, died today in London. She was 52.
Her husband Damian Lewis, to whom McCrory had been married since 2007, confirmed the news in a statement:
McCrory, who played Narcissa Malfoy in the final three Harry Potter films, had been diagnosed with cancer. Lewis said she had fought “an heroic battle” and had “died peacefully at home, surrounded by a wave of love from friends and family.”
Lewis added: “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.”
BERLIN, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 6: Damian Lewis, Helen McCrory pose on the red carpet prior to the premiere of the movie ‘Queen of the Desert’ at the 65th Berlin Festival in Berlin, on February 6, 2015.
McCrory was born in London, England on 17th August, 1968, was educated at Queenswood School near Hatfield, Hertfordshire. She began studying acting at the Drama Centre in London.
Her most notable screen credits included the James Bond film Skyfall in 2012 Mama Jeanne in Martin Scorsese’s Hugo in 2011 and played the matriarch of a crime family on Peaky Blinders.
