Categories Damian Lewis Events Poetry Print Media Readings Tributes

A Poet for Every Day of the Year at the National Theatre – Helen McCrory remembered in powerful evening

A variety of readers took the stage to mark the new anthology

A Poet for Every Day of the Year
A Poet for Every Day of the Year © Urszula Soltys

There’s something about poetry. Spending an hour listening to a company of fine actors reading verse aloud is like simultaneously being offered a hug and a cold shower of clarity in one all-embracing package. It feels comforting and stimulating at the same time.

When the event is dedicated to the memory of Helen McCrory, who had performed at similar events over the years, there’s an additional patina of melancholy, but also of pertinence. She thought poetry mattered and supported Allie Esiri’s passionate determination to make it a part of our daily lives. We would do well to listen.

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Categories Damian Lewis Events Poetry Print Media Reviews Tributes

A Poet for Every Day of the Year review: Ode to Helen McCrory cuts to the heart of the matter

An Ode to Helen McCrory at the National Theatre

Damian Lewis paid fitting tribute to his late wife
Damian Lewis paid fitting tribute to his late wife URSZULA SOLTYS

★★★★☆

How would Damian Lewis, making his first stage appearance since the death of his wife Helen McCrory last April, begin an occasion dedicated to her memory? With a no-nonsense nod to the mixture of happiness and sadness of being at an occasional poetry reading event that she had taken part in previously herself? With a poem in her honour, performed to a well-scrubbed crowd (including McCrory’s friend Helena Bonham Carter) who had turned out to see him and Sir Simon Russell Beale, Fay Ripley, Danny Sapani and Lesley Sharp reading from the latest anthology of 366 poems edited by the evening’s organiser and host, Allie Esiri?

Continue reading A Poet for Every Day of the Year review: Ode to Helen McCrory cuts to the heart of the matter

Categories Peaky Blinders Print Media Tributes

Peaky Blinders’ Cillian Murphy Explains How Helen McCrory’s Death Will Impact Season 6

“We couldn’t quite fathom it all as we were making it.”

by Dan Seddon | Digital Spy | January 20, 2022

Helen McCrory and Cillian Murphy attend the Premiere of BBC Two’s drama “Peaky Blinders” episode one, series three at BFI Southbank on May 3, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight managed to keep the late great Helen McCrory “very present” in the upcoming sixth and final season.

The Polly Gray performer tragically died last April following her battle with cancer, but according to Tommy Shelby star Cillian Murphy, she would’ve reprised her role if it hadn’t been for pandemic-related complications.

Continue reading Peaky Blinders’ Cillian Murphy Explains How Helen McCrory’s Death Will Impact Season 6

Categories Peaky Blinders Print Media Tributes

Peaky Blinders Creator: Continuing without Helen McCrory was a challenge

               Steven Knight reflects on the death of the “incredible actor”

Naomi Clark | PA Entertainment | January 17, 2022

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight said continuing the story after the death of actress Helen McCrory was a “challenge” – but believes she would have wanted them to keep going with the crime drama.

McCrory, who played Shelby family matriarch Polly Gray in the hit BBC One show, died from cancer aged 52 last April.

Knight reflected on the show’s future following the death of the “incredible actor”, as well as his upcoming projects – including the upcoming stage adaptation, Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby.

He told the PA news agency: “It was a terrible, tragic loss that happened while we were shooting.

“And the loss of such an incredible human being is the main thing. The loss of such an incredible actor is awful.

“She was right at the heart (of the series). There are three central characters – she was one of them.

“And it’s a challenge, and was a challenge, to keep going with the story without her. But we knew that she would have wanted that to continue. So that’s what we did.”

The actress, the wife of Homeland star Damian Lewis, had starred in every series of the show since it began in 2013.

 

Categories Broadcast Media Harry Potter Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Print Media Tributes

Harry Potter Returns To Hogwarts

Jason Isaacs and Tom Felton remember Helen McCrory

The actors and cast behind the Harry Potter franchise remembered their late co-stars during an in memoriam section of the Harry Potter Return To Hogwarts reunion, which aired on Saturday.

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint led the tributes to the many stars they have lost over the past two decades, since the franchise launched with Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone – including Richard Harris, Alan Rickman and most recently Helen McCrory.

Speaking about appearing on the reunion without their late stars, Emma said: ‘It’s obviously amazing to be back, but so many people we thought would be here for much longer like Helen and Alan and Richard’, while Rupert sadly echoed: ‘They’re like family, just gone too soon’.