Helen McCrory

Helen Elizabeth McCrory OBE (17 August 1968 – 16 April 2021) was a celebrated English actress. Her acting journey began at the Drama Centre London, post which she made her professional stage debut in The Importance of Being Earnest in 1990. McCrory adorned the theatre and played acclaimed roles including Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Olivia in Twelfth Night, and Rosalind in As You Like It. Known for her versatility, she became a popular figure in the film industry with roles such as Françoise in Charlotte Gray (2001), Narcissa Malfoy in the final three Harry Potter films (2009, 2010, 2011), and Clair Dowar in the James Bond film Skyfall (2012). She also had an impactful presence on TV, remembered for her roles as Polly Gray in the BBC series Peaky Blinders, Madame Kali in the Showtime series Penny Dreadful and Kathryn Villiers in the BBC mini-series MotherFatherSon. Her performance on stage took a compelling turn when she played Rebecca West in Ibsen's Rosmersholm, for which she garnered appreciation. Apart from her theatre, film and television work, McCrory was set to star in the final series of Peaky Blinders in 2020. However, production was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and she was unable to return due to breast cancer. She was also known for her philanthropy work, extending her support to London children's charity Scene & Heard, the charity Sir Hubert von Herkomer (HVH) Arts Foundation, and the charity The Prince's Trust.