Helen McCrory – Fan Fun with Damian Lewis

The star, who has died of cancer at 52, was a brilliant actress and an even better person, writes her husband

Damian Lewis | April 18, 2021 | The Sunday Times

Helen McCrory at the British Academy Film Awards in 2013 DAVE M BENETT/GETTY IMAGES

As I sit down to write this, I can hear Helen shouting from the bed, “Keep it short, Damian, it’s not about you.”

I’ll try, but on a weekend when the papers, rightly, will be paying their respects to the Duke of Edinburgh, thousands of others around the world have been remembering m’Duchess, my Little One, royalty in her own right. And I’d like to throw in my tuppence worth…

When I say “royalty”, I am of course referring to the esteem in which Helen is held in our business. Her nickname to many was Dame Helen (apologies, Dame Helen), and although we’ll never know now whether that would have become a reality, I think secretly, we do know.

We are so shocked and saddened by the terrible news that Helen has passed away. We have Damian, Manon and Gulliver in our thoughts and hope they will find peace in the beautiful memories they created together. Helen was a beautiful soul, a brilliant actress, and a kick-ass woman. Please visit the Helen-McCrory.com Tribute Page to see all the memories people are sharing about her. If you would like leave your own heartfelt comments and condolences, please visit the Tribute Post here.

If you wish to make a donation, the McCrory-Lewis family has asked that donations be made to the Sir Hubert von Herkomer Arts Foundation here.