The English actress Helen McCrory, known for roles in Peaky Blinders and Harry Potter , has died of cancer at the age of 52. Her husband, actor Damian Lewis, announced her death on Twitter on Friday afternoon .
“With a broken heart, I have to announce that the powerful and beautiful woman that Helen McCrory is has passed away after a heroic battle against cancer,” Lewis told the social medium. He writes that McCrory passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of her family and friends. “She died the way she lived. Without fear.”
— Damian Lewis (@lewis_damian) April 16, 2021
McCrory, who played her first role in 1994, broke through to a wider audience in 2006 thanks to her role as Cherie Blair (the wife of Tony Blair) in the movie The Queen . The actress went on to star in the last three Harry Potter films as Narcissa Malfoy. She also played a minister in the James Bond film Skyfall around the same time .
In addition to films, McCrory was also regularly seen in television series. She played a role in Penny Dreadful and she had a recurring role as Polly on Peaky Blinders .