Actress played the role of Polly Gray in the Midlands-based drama

Actress Helen McCrory, who starred in the Caryn Mandabach Productions/Tiger Aspect series Peaky Blinders, has died aged 52, her husband Damian Lewis announced on Friday.

According to a post from Lewis on Twitter, McCrory died peacefully at home “after an heroic battle with cancer.” 

As well as her Peaky Blinders role, McCrory last appeared in the ITV drama series Quiz and the BBC series Roadkill. She also played Cherie Blair in Stephen Frears’ The Queen and Richard Loncraine’s follow-up film The Special Relationship; as well as minister Clair Dowar in Sam Mendes’ James Bond film Skyfall, Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies and Mama Jeanne in Martin Scorsese’s Hugo.

She is survived by her husband and fellow actor Lewis, and their two children Manon, 14 and Gulliver, 13.

“Helen was one of the finest actresses this country will ever see. From Potter to Peaky, from Blair to Bond, Helen’s fearlessness made every part she played unique and unmissable”, said BBC director of drama Piers Wenger. “Her body of work speaks of her extraordinary talent, what it doesn’t speak of is her kindness, intelligence and sense of fun. This is too soon, too cruel. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this incredibly sad time.”

A version of this story appeared in our sister publication www.screendaily.com

 

 

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