Damian Lewis pens touching tribute to late wife Helen McCrory

Actor Damian Lewis paid a heartfelt tribute to his late wife Helen McCrory who died last week battling cancer She was 52 when she breathed her last The Billions star honoured McCrory who was widely known for her roles as Narcissa Malfoy in the popular Harry Potter films and Polly Gray in Peaky Blinders in an emotional tribute written for The Sunday Times in which he reflected on his brilliant wifes life reported People magazineMany people have spoken about her career and many more will so thats where Ill leave it because it strikes me that two things are happening this weekend an outpouring of grief and shock and a celebration of Helen McCrory the actress from fans everywhere and of Helen the person And thats who I want to talk about Lewis said of the actorHelen was an even more brilliant person than she was an actress the actor continued He added She was a people person sure Im much more interested in who Im with than where I am she would say and innately wanted to share But she also lived by the principle of kindness and generosity That you put these things out into the world to make it better to make people feel betterLewis went on to speak on how McCrory always spread happiness writing Even when dying in her last few days when talking to our wonderful carers she repeatedly said thank you so much in her halfdelirious stateIve never known anyone able to enjoy life as much Her ability to be in the present and enjoy the moment was inspirational Nor was she interested in navelgazing No real interest in selfreflection she believed in looking out not in Which is why she was able to turn her light so brightly on others Lewis added Lewis who married McCrory in 2007 after they met on the production of Five Gold Rings at Londons Almeida Theatre in 2003 said the late actor has left their two children 14yearold daughter Manon and 13yearold son Gulliver too early but they have been prepared for lifeThey have in them the fearlessness wit curiosity talent and beauty of their mother She has exhorted us to be courageous and not afraid Lewis saidHe also wrote in the tribute of McCrory She has been utterly heroic in her illness Funny of course generous brave uncomplaining constantly reminding us all of how lucky weve been how blessed we are Her generosity has extended to encouraging us three to live Live fully take opportunities have adventuresAlready I miss her She has shone more brightly in the last months than you would imagine even the brightest star could shine In life too we had to rise to meet her But her greatest and most exquisite act of bravery and generosity has been to normalise her death Shes shown no fear no bitterness no selfpity only armed us with the courage to go on and insisted that no one be sad because she is happy said LewisIm staggered by her he added of McCrory Shes been a meteor in our lifeLewis announced McCrorys demise on Friday Im heartbroken to announce that after a heroic battle with cancer the beautiful and mighty woman that is Helen McCrory has died peacefully at home surrounded by a wave of love from friends and family he said on TwitterMcCrory has been honoured on social media since the news of her death by costars and friends including Daniel Radcliffe Helen Mirren Jason Issacs JK Rowling Tom Felton and Cillian MurphyIn addition to her film and TV roles McCrory began her career on stage and appeared in more than 25 productions during the 1990s through the mid2010s Her stage credits included Macbeth Pride and Prejudice As You Like It Medea and many moreThe Peaky Blinders has also appeared in the James Bond film Skyfall Martin Scorseses Hugo and played Cherie Booth wife of UK Prime Minister Tony Blair in The Queen and The Special RelationshipThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever