Helen McCrory facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Helen McCrory OBE
McCrory in 2017
Born	Helen Elizabeth McCrory (1968-08-17)17 August 1968 Paddington, London, England
Died	16 April 2021(2021-04-16) (aged 52) Tufnell Park, London, England
Alma mater	Drama Centre London
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1990–2021
Spouse(s)	Damian Lewis ​ (m. 2007)​
Children	2

Helen Elizabeth McCrory (born August 17, 1968 – died April 16, 2021) was a talented English actress. She was awarded an OBE, which stands for Officer of the Order of the British Empire. This is a special award given by the British King or Queen for great achievements.

Helen McCrory studied acting at the Drama Centre London. She started her acting career on stage in 1990. She played many famous characters in plays. These included Lady Macbeth in Macbeth and Rosalind in As You Like It.

She was also well-known for her roles in movies and TV shows. She played Narcissa Malfoy in the last three Harry Potter films. She was also Polly Gray in the popular TV series Peaky Blinders. Other notable roles include Cherie Blair in The Queen and Clair Dowar in the James Bond movie Skyfall.

Early Life and Education

Helen McCrory was born in Paddington, London, on August 17, 1968. Her mother, Ann, was a physiotherapist, a healthcare professional who helps people with physical problems. Her father, Iain, was a diplomat, someone who represents their country in other nations. Helen was the oldest of three children.

She went to Queenswood School in England. After school, she lived in Italy for a year. When she returned to Britain, she began studying acting. She trained at the Drama Centre London, a well-known acting school.

Acting Career Highlights

Helen McCrory won an award early in her career. In 1993, she received third prize at the Ian Charleson Awards. This was for her role as Rose Trelawny in the play Trelawny of the 'Wells'. She was also nominated for other theatre awards for her roles in plays like Uncle Vanya and As You Like It.

She appeared in many films and TV shows. In 2006, she played Cherie Blair, the wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, in the film The Queen. She played this role again in The Special Relationship in 2010.

Helen McCrory speaking at the unveiling of a statue of suffragist Millicent Fawcett in Parliament Square, London in 2018.

Helen McCrory was first cast as Bellatrix Lestrange in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. However, she had to leave the role because she was pregnant. Helena Bonham Carter took over the part. Later, Helen was cast as Bellatrix's sister, Narcissa Malfoy, in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. She continued this role in the final two Harry Potter movies.

In 2010, she played a villain named Rosanna Calvierri in an episode of Doctor Who. She also starred in the James Bond film Skyfall in 2012. From 2013 to 2019, she played Polly Gray in the popular series Peaky Blinders. She was a main character alongside Cillian Murphy.

In 2014, Helen McCrory played the main role in the play Medea. Her performance was highly praised by critics. She also appeared in the TV series Penny Dreadful and the film A Little Chaos. In 2016, she starred in the play The Deep Blue Sea, which was shown live in cinemas. Her last TV role was as Prime Minister Dawn Ellison in the drama Roadkill in 2020.

Personal Life and Charity Work

Helen McCrory and Damian Lewis at the 2013 BAFTA Awards.

On July 4, 2007, Helen McCrory married actor Damian Lewis. They had two children, a daughter named Manon (born 2006) and a son named Gulliver (born 2007). Their main home was in London.

Helen McCrory was very involved in charity work. She supported the London children's charity Scene & Heard. She was also a patron for the Sir Hubert von Herkomer (HVH) Arts Foundation. This charity helps young people get involved in the arts.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her husband, Damian Lewis, helped start a program called Feed NHS. This program provided food from restaurants to staff working in the NHS. They raised £1 million for the charity. Helen was also an ambassador for The Prince's Trust, a charity that helps young people.

Awards and Recognition

In 2016, Helen McCrory received an honorary doctorate from the University of York. This is a special degree given to honor someone's achievements. In 2017, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This was for her great contributions to drama.

Death and Legacy

Helen McCrory passed away from breast cancer at her home in London on April 16, 2021. She was 52 years old. She had kept her illness private. She did not want it to take attention away from her acting and charity work.

At the time of her death, she was filming for the sixth season of Peaky Blinders. Because she could not finish her scenes, the story had to be changed. Her final acting performance was in the animated film Charlotte, which was released after her death.

Film Roles

Television Roles

Stage Performances

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Helen McCrory para niños