Helen McCrory
Helen McCrory | |
---|---|
![]() McCrory in 2015 | |
Born | Helen Elizabeth McCrory 17 August 1968 Paddington, London, England |
Died | 16 April 2021 Tufnell Park, London, England | (aged 52)
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1990–2021 |
Spouse | |
Children | 2 |
Helen Elizabeth McCrory OBE (17 August 1968[1][2] – 16 April 2021)[3] was an English actress. After studying at the Drama Centre London, she made her stage debut in The Importance of Being Earnest in 1990. Other stage roles include playing Lady Macbeth in Macbeth at Shakespeare's Globe, Olivia in Twelfth Night and Rosalind in As You Like It in the West End.
McCrory portrayed Cherie Blair in both The Queen (2006) and The Special Relationship (2010). She also portrayed Françoise in the film Charlotte Gray (2001), Narcissa Malfoy in the final three Harry Potter films, Mama Jeanne in Martin Scorsese's family film Hugo (2011), Clair Dowar in the James Bond film Skyfall (2012), Polly Gray in Peaky Blinders (2013–2019), Emma Banville in Fearless (2017), and Kathryn Villiers in MotherFatherSon (2019).
Early life
McCrory was born in Paddington in London. Her mother, Ann (née Morgans), is Welsh and her father, Iain McCrory (born 29 March 1940), is a diplomat from Glasgow; they married in 1974.[4] She was the eldest of three children.[5]
She was educated at Queenswood School near Hatfield, Hertfordshire,[6] and then spent a year living in Italy. Upon her return to Britain, she began studying acting at the Drama Centre in London.[7][8]
Career
McCrory won third prize at the Ian Charleson Awards for her 1993 performance as Rose Trelawny in Trelawny of the 'Wells' at the National Theatre.[9] In 2002, she was nominated for a London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actress (for playing Elena in Chekhov's Uncle Vanya at the Donmar Warehouse). She was later nominated for a 2006 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for her role as Rosalind in As You Like It in the West End.[7] In April 2008, she made a "compelling" Rebecca West in a production of Ibsen's Rosmersholm at the Almeida Theatre, London.[10]
She appeared in Charles II: The Power and The Passion (2003), as Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine, and in supporting roles in such films as Interview with the Vampire (1994), Charlotte Gray (2001), The Count of Monte Cristo (2002), and Casanova (2005). In The Queen (2006) she played Cherie Blair, a role she reprised in Peter Morgan's follow-up The Special Relationship (2010).[7][8]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Millicent_Fawcett_Statue_04_-_Helen_McRory_Speaks_%2840788591705%29.jpg/220px-Millicent_Fawcett_Statue_04_-_Helen_McRory_Speaks_%2840788591705%29.jpg)
She appeared in a modernised television adaptation of Frankenstein. Her first pregnancy forced her to pull out of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), in which she had been cast as Bellatrix Lestrange (she was replaced by Helena Bonham Carter). McCrory was later cast as Bellatrix's sister Narcissa Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, released in July 2009.[11][12] McCrory reprised her role in the final films, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2; McCrory's performance was well received by fans of the books. She also played the principal villain role of Rosanna Calvierri in the episode "The Vampires of Venice" of the BBC television series Doctor Who.[8]
McCrory starred in The Last of the Haussmans at the Royal National Theatre, which began 12 June 2012. The production was broadcast to cinemas around the world on 11 October 2012 through the National Theatre Live programme.[13]
In 2013, McCrory narrated poetry for The Love Book App, an interactive anthology of love literature developed by Allie Byrne Esiri.[14] Again in 2013, she played Lady Macbeth in Macbeth at the Little Angel Theatre. The same year, she started playing Polly Gray in Peaky Blinders.[8]
In 2014, McCrory played the title role in the National Theatre's production of Medea, directed by Carrie Cracknell. Also in 2014, McCrory made a guest appearance on the TV series Penny Dreadful. She returned as a regular for the show's second season, playing the main antagonist.[7][8]
In August 2016, McCrory was confirmed to play Emma Banville in ITV drama series Fearless, which began airing in June 2017.[15]
Personal life
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Damian_Lewis_and_Helen_McCrory_%288464894420%29.jpg/220px-Damian_Lewis_and_Helen_McCrory_%288464894420%29.jpg)
On 4 July 2007, McCrory married actor Damian Lewis;[16] the couple had a daughter named Manon and a son named Gulliver.[17] Their main home was in Tufnell Park, North London; and a second near Sudbury in Suffolk.[18]
McCrory served as an honorary patron of the London children's charity Scene & Heard.[19]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her husband supported Feed NHS, a programme to give food from high street restaurants to NHS staff, and had raised £1 million for the charity by early April of that year.[20]
She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to drama.[21]
Death
McCrory died of cancer at her home in London on 16 April 2021, aged 52.[22][23] Announcing the death on Twitter, husband Damian Lewis stated she died "peacefully at home, surrounded by a wave of love from friends and family".[24]
Filmography
Film
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1993 | Full Stretch | Vicki Goodall | Episode: "Risky Business" | [44] |
1993 | Performance | Jean Rice | Episode: "The Entertainer" | [45] |
1995 | Screen Two | Jo | Episode: "Streetlife" | [44] |
1995 | Dirty Old Town | Claire | [46] | |
1996 | The Fragile Heart | Nicola Pascoe | 3 episodes | [38] |
1996 | Witness Against Hitler | Freya von Moltke | [38] | |
1997 | Trial & Retribution | Anita Harris | 2 episodes | [47] |
1998 | Spoonface Steinberg | Mother | [38] | |
1998 | Stand and Deliver | Christina | [38] | |
1999 | Split Second | Angie Anderson | [38] | |
2000 | Anna Karenina | Anna Karenina | 4 episodes | [29] |
2000 | North Square | Rose Fitzgerald | 10 episodes | [44] |
2001 | In a Land of Plenty | Mary Freeman | 3 episodes | [38] |
2002 | The Jury | Rose Davies | 6 episodes | [38] |
2002 | Dickens | Kate Dickens | 3 episodes | [38] |
2002 | Dead Gorgeous | Antonia Ashton | [29] | |
2003 | Lucky Jim | Margaret Peel | [38] | |
2003 | Carla | Carla French | [38] | |
2003 | Charles II: The Power and The Passion | Lady Castlemaine (Barbara Villiers) | [38] | |
2004 | Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking | Jenny Vandeleur | [38] | |
2005 | Messiah 4 : The Harrowing | Dr. Rachel Price | [38] | |
2007 | Frankenstein | Dr. Victoria Frankenstein | [38] | |
2009 | Life | Amanda Puryer | 5 episodes | [48] |
2010 | Doctor Who | Rosanna Calvierri | Episode: "The Vampires of Venice" | [8] |
2011 | Phineas and Ferb | Lucy Fletcher (voice) | Episode: "My Fair Goalie" | [49] |
2012 | We'll Take Manhattan | Lady Clare Rendlesham | [38] | |
2012 | Leaving | Julie Ranmore | 3 episodes | [38] |
2013–2019 | Peaky Blinders | Polly Gray | 30 episodes | [29] |
2014 | Inside No. 9 | Tabitha | Episode: "The Harrowing" | [8] |
2014 | Tommy Cooper: Not Like That, Like This | Mary Kay | [50] | |
2014–2015 | Penny Dreadful | Evelyn Poole (Madame Kali) | 12 episodes | [29] |
2017 | Fearless | Emma Banville | 6 episodes | [5] |
2019 | MotherFatherSon | Kathryn Villiers | 8 episodes | [45] |
2019 | Have I Got News For You | Self, Host | 1 episode (Series 58, Episode 7) | [51] |
2019–2020 | His Dark Materials | Stelmaria (voice) | [8] | |
2020 | Quiz | Sonia Woodley QC | 2 episodes | [29] |
2020 | Roadkill | Dawn Ellison | Main cast | [8] |
Stage
Awards and nominations
Year | Title | Award | Category | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1991 | Blood Wedding | Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards | Best Actress | Won |
1993 | Trelawny of the 'Wells' | Ian Charleson Award | Best Actress | 3rd place |
1995 | Macbeth | Shakespeare Globe Awards | Richard Burton Award For Most Promising Newcomer | Won |
Streetlife | Monte-Carlo Television Festival | Best Actress | Won | |
Royal Television Society | Best Actress | Won | ||
1997 | BAFTA Cymru | Best Actress | Won | |
The Fragile Heart | London Film Critics' Circle | Actress of the Year | Nominated | |
2001 | North Square | London Film Critics' Circle | Best Actress | Won |
Broadcasting Press Guild Awards | Best Actress | Won | ||
2002 | Uncle Vanya | Evening Standard Theatre Awards | Best Actress | Nominated |
2003 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Nominated | |
WhatsOnStage Awards | Best Actress in a Play | Nominated | ||
2004 | Charles II: The Power and The Passion | Satellite Awards | Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Nominated |
2005 | L.A. Television Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | |
2006 | As You Like It | WhatsOnStage Awards | Best Actress in a Play | Nominated |
Laurence Olivier Award | Best Actress | Nominated | ||
2007 | The Queen | London Film Critics' Circle | Supporting Actress of the Year | Nominated |
2008 | Rosmersholm | Evening Standard Theatre Awards | Best Actress (longlisted] | Nominated |
2011 | The Late Middle Classes | WhatsOnStage Awards | Best Actress in a Play | Nominated |
2012 | Royal Television Society | Best Actress | Nominated | |
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows–Part 2 | Gold Derby Awards | Ensemble Cast | Nominated | |
The Last of the Haussmans | Evening Standard Theatre Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | |
2013 | Glamour Awards | Theatre Actress of the Year | Won | |
WhatsOnStage Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Play | Nominated | ||
Laurence Olivier Award | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Nominated | ||
2014 | Peaky Blinders | Biarritz International Festival of Audiovisual Programming | TV Series and Serials: Actress | Won |
Crime Thriller Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | ||
Medea | Evening Standard Theatre Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | |
2015 | Critics' Circle Theatre Award | Best Actress | Won | |
Penny Dreadful | Satellite Awards | Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Nominated | |
2016 | Critics' Choice Television Award | Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | |
The Deep Blue Sea | Evening Standard Theatre Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | |
WhatsOnStage Awards | Best Actress in a Play | Nominated |
References
- ^ Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005.; at ancestry.com
- ^ "Mrs Damian Lewis, professionally known as Ms Helen McCrory Authorised Biography – Debrett's People of Today, Mrs Damian Lewis, professionally known as Ms Helen McCrory Profile". Debretts.com. 17 August 1968. Archived from the original on 15 June 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
{{cite web}}
:|archive-date=
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timestamp mismatch; 27 June 2012 suggested (help) - ^ "'Beautiful and mighty' Harry Potter star Helen McCrory dies aged 52". Irish Times. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ Lee. "Helen McCrory profile". thescotsman.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
- ^ a b Williamson, Charlotte. "Helen McCrory on Fearless: 'The first time I read the script, I couldn't put it down'". Woman and Home Magazine. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Helen McCrory returns to Q to audition Drama Scholars". Queenswood. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Helen McCrory - Stars On Stage". London Theatre. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Helen McCrory, star of Peaky Blinders and Harry Potter, dies aged 52". the Guardian. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ Fowler, Rebecca. "Triumphant first acts". Sunday Times. 13 March 1994.
- ^ Spencer, Charles (27 May 2008). "Rosmersholm: passions lost in the gloom". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 30 May 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
- ^ Adler, Shawn (12 November 2007). 'Harry Potter' Cast Grows: Helen McCrory Joins 'Half-Blood Prince'. MTV. Archived from the original on 20 April 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2008.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Narcissa cast in Potter 6". Newsround. 9 November 2007. Archived from the original on 11 November 2007. Retrieved 9 November 2007.
- ^ "The Last of the Haussmans" Archived 5 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine at National Theatre web site
- ^ "The Love Book App, poetry read by great actors". Iliterature.net. Archived from the original on 23 September 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
- ^ "ITV commissions six part drama series Fearless". ITV Press Centre. ITV. 16 August 2016. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
- ^ "All you need to know about Damian Lewis' marriage to Helen McCrory". Hello!. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ Cummins, Fiona (1 April 2006). "Exclusive: Baby for Helen". Mirror. Archived from the original on 11 December 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
- ^ Jarvis, Gemma. "Actors Damian Lewis and Helen McCrory urges Suffolk to "dig deep" after launching FeedNHS". East Anglian Daily Times.
- ^ "Who We Are". Scene & Heard. Archived from the original on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
- ^ "Homeland and Peaky Blinders stars raise nearly £1m to feed NHS workers". BBC News. BBC. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
- ^ "No. 61803". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2016. p. N13.
- ^ "British actress Helen McCrory has died, husband Damian Lewis says". Reuters. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ Kanter, Jake (16 April 2021). "Helen McCrory Dies: 'Peaky Blinders' & 'Harry Potter' Actress Was 52". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Peaky Blinders actress Helen McCrory dies aged 52". BBC News. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Where Are They Now? The Cast Of Interview With The Vampire". Screen Rant. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ McCarthy, Todd; McCarthy, Todd (30 May 1994). "Uncovered". Variety. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "The James Gang". Time Out Worldwide. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Dad Savage - Variety". Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Hipes, Patrick (16 April 2021). "Helen McCrory's Film & TV Career: Photo Gallery". Deadline. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "DVD Review: Charlotte Gray – There Ought To Be Clowns". 21 January 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Helen McCrory death: Actor dies from cancer, aged 52". The Independent. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Deep Down (2002)". BFI. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Does God Play Football (2005) – BFI". Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Enduring Love movie review & film summary (2004)". 4 November 2004. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "British Council Film: Normal for Norfolk". Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Flashbacks of a Fool". Hollywood Reporter. 17 April 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Helen McCrory, Harry Potter And Peaky Blinders Actress, Dies At 52". Comic Book. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Helen McCrory". BFI. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "'Hugo' Actress Helen McCrory on Working With Scorsese". Wall Street Jounral. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Film review: Flying Blind (15)". The Independent. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Peaky Blinders and Skyfall actress Helen McCrory dies aged 52". Evening Express. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ Wloszczyna, Susan (7 April 2017). "Review: Their Finest". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ Loving Vincent: Helen McCrory
- ^ a b c "Helen McCrory's Film & TV Career". Deadline. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ a b Seel, Matt (13 August 2019). "Everything we know about Peaky Blinders". BBC. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Rik Mayall Presents: Dirty Old Town (S2EP2 ITV 5 Feb 1995, Helen McCrory)". Memorable TV. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Trial & Retribution - S1 - Episode 1: Trial & Retribution I - Part One". Radio Times. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Life". TVGuide. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ Weiss, Josh (16 April 2021). "'Harry Potter' actress Helen McCrory dies at 52 following battle with cancer". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ Guide, British Comedy. "Tommy Cooper: Not Like That, Like This - ITV Comedy Drama - British Comedy Guide". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Have I Got News For You Series 58". BBC. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Cillian Murphy leads tributes to Peaky Blinders co-star Helen McCrory". iNews. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ Moreau, Jordan; Moreau, Jordan (16 April 2021). "Helen McCrory, 'Harry Potter' and 'Peaky Blinders' Star, Dies at 52". Variety. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Stage and Screen Star Helen McCrory Passes Away at 52". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Helen McCrory". National Theatre. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Helen McCrory". Independent Talent. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ Billington, Michael (9 June 2016). "The Deep Blue Sea review – Helen McCrory blazes in passionate revival". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 June 2016.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- 1968 births
- 2021 deaths
- 20th-century English actresses
- 21st-century English actresses
- Actresses from London
- Alumni of the Drama Centre London
- Deaths from cancer in England
- English film actresses
- English people of Scottish descent
- English people of Welsh descent
- English Shakespearean actresses
- English stage actresses
- English television actresses
- English voice actresses
- Officers of the Order of the British Empire
- People educated at Queenswood School
- People from Paddington
- Royal Shakespeare Company members