Helen McCrory’s friends learned of her brave cancer battle just days before tragic death
‘None of us knew what she was battling’: Helen McCrory’s friends learned of her cancer diagnosis just days before her death
- David Harewood said McCrory’s widow Damian Lewis texted him ‘days’ before
- It was announced she had died on April 16, aged 52, following a cancer battle
- Mr Harewood said ‘none of use knew what she was battling’ ahead of her death
Helen McCrory‘s brave cancer battle was kept secret from her friends until just days before her tragic death, it has emerged.
Actor Damian Lewis announced on April 16 that his wife had passed away aged 52 following a ‘heroic’ battle with cancer, leaving behind her two teenage children.
Friends of the couple have now revealed they only learned of Helen’s condition shortly before the tragic news was shared, while others were ‘sworn to secrecy.’
Actor David Harewood, who starred with Lewis in Homeland, said his co-star texted him about the diagnosis ‘a couple of days’ before the announcement of her death.
In an interview with The Mirror, Harewood, 55, said: ‘None of us knew what she was battling’ before paying tribute to the late Peaky Blinders actress.
Gone too soon: Helen McCrory’s brave cancer battle was kept secret from her friends until just days before her tragic death, it has been reported
Actor Damian Lewis announced on April 16 that his wife (seen together in May 2018) had passed away aged 52 following a ‘heroic’ battle with cancer, leaving behind her two teenage children
He added: ‘Damian got in touch a couple of days before the news broke, he let us all know. It was all very, very upsetting.
‘Nobody knew. None of us knew what she was battling.’
He continued of her passing: ‘It was shocking and unbelievably sad. Damian did such a tremendous job in publicly handling all that.’
The TV star described Helen as ‘an incredible, wonderful woman’ before adding: ‘My heart goes out to him and to their two young children.’
Earlier, Helen’s friend Carrie Cracknell revealed those close to the Peaky Blinders star ‘were sworn to secrecy’ when it came to her cancer battle.
Discussing her friend’s tragic passing on Saturday, Cracknell, 41 – who is a theatre director – told BBC Radio Four’s Today: ‘Helen wanted to be very private about her illness. Very few people knew. We were sworn to secrecy.
Friends of the couple have now revealed they only learned of Helen’s condition shortly before the tragic news was shared, while others were ‘sworn to secrecy’. Pictured: The couple at a friend’s wedding in September 2020
The celebrated actress’ death was confirmed earlier this month by her husband, who said she died ‘peacefully’ at home surrounded by friends and family
‘She faced up to cancer with a level of bravery and humour that was extraordinary.’
The celebrated actress’ death was confirmed earlier this month by her husband, who said she died ‘peacefully’ at home surrounded by friends and family.
On Twitter, he added: ‘I’m heartbroken to announce that after a heroic battle with cancer, the beautiful and mighty woman that is Helen McCrory has died peacefully at home, surrounded by a wave of love from friends and family.
‘She died as she lived. Fearlessly. God we love her and know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives. She blazed so brightly.
‘Go now, Little One, into the air, and thank you.’
So sad: Actor David Harewood, who starred with Helen’s widow Damian Lewis in Homeland, revealed his co-star texted him about Helen’s condition ‘a couple of days’ before it was announced that she had sadly passed away on April 16, aged just 52
Lewis later revealed his late wife had urged him to find love again just two weeks before her death, adding she had shown ‘no fear, no bitterness’ and ‘no self-pity.’
Writing in The Sunday Times, the actor said Helen told him and their children, daughter Manon, 14, and son Gulliver, 13, that she wanted ‘Daddy to have lots of girlfriends’.
He wrote: ‘She has been utterly heroic in her illness. Funny, of course — generous, brave, uncomplaining, constantly reminding us all of how lucky we’ve been, how blessed we are.
‘Her generosity has extended to encouraging us three to live. Live fully, take opportunities, have adventures.
‘Only a couple of weeks ago she said to us from her bed, ‘I want Daddy to have girlfriends, lots of them, you must all love again, love isn’t possessive, but you know, Damian, try at least to get though the funeral without snogging someone.’
Lewis also wrote of his heartbreak that Helen had left their children ‘too early’ but they have been prepared for life as she taught them to be ‘courageous’.
He stood by the actress’ side during her illness, with Helen brushing off her hoarse voice in her final TV appearance last month to selflessly talk about their charity work.
Shocked: In an interview with The Mirror , David, 55, said: ‘None of us knew what she was battling’ before paying tribute to the late Peaky Blinders actress
Heartbreaking: ‘Damian got in touch a couple of days before the news broke, he let us all know. It was all very, very upsetting’ (Helen pictured in 2014)
The couple’s devotion to one another shone brightly for all to see, with Lewis saying the actress died peacefully at home surrounded by ‘peace and love’ and their children.
Helen, who was awarded the OBE for services to drama in the 2017 New Years Honours, was best known for playing the matriarch Polly in Peaky Blinders and Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter films.
Her other movie roles included playing MP Clair Dowar in Skyfall and Cherie Blair in The Queen and The Special Relationship.
On television, she appeared in Doctor Who, Inside No 9 and His Dark Materials, and last year appeared in the Hugh Laurie drama Roadkill on the BBC and ITV’s Quiz.
Tragic: McCrory was best known for playing the matriarch Polly in Peaky Blinders and Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter films (pictured 2019)
Heartbroken: The Peaky Blinders star passed away after a ‘heroic’ battle with cancer, her husband Damian announced on Friday night
She also had an accomplished stage career, winning plaudits for National Theatre roles in productions of Medea and Terence Rattigan’s The Deep Blue Sea.
McCrory was also was nominated for an Olivier for her role as Rosalind in As You Like It in at London’s Wyndham’s theatre in 2006.
Her husband led tributes to the star tonight along with JK Rowling, Michael Sheen, Taron Egerton, Cillian Murphy and Kate Beckinsale.
The actress and Lewis married in 2007 after falling in love when they were both cast in the play Five Gold Rings at the off-West End Almeida Theatre back in 2003. Together they share a daughter Manon, 14, and son Gulliver, 13.
The couple were last seen during an appearance on Good Morning Britain last month, where they appeared to speak about their charity work for the Prince’s Trust and the Prince’s Trust Awards.
McCrory and Lewis led fundraising efforts to provide hot meals for NHS staff during the pandemic. Their work led to almost £1million in donations to the Feed NHS scheme, and partnerships with chains including Leon and Wasabi.
