The actress Helen McCrory, and her father, Iain, a retired diplomat
Because of Dad’s job in the diplomatic service, home was wherever he happened to be posted — Norway, Tanzania, London, Paris. I’m sure some kids would have found that unsettling, but I thought it was wonderfully exciting. And it taught me a valuable lesson… different cultures do things in different ways, and there is no such thing as normal.
My earliest memories are of Africa and the countless hours spent hanging out with my parents. Dad only worked until 1pm, so he’d then come home to do Dad stuff, like fix my bicycle or tell me stories. If there was anything that needed doing, people would come to see him. Nothing terrified him and nothing bad could happen to me when I was with him.
I’d hate to think I’ve ended up marrying a version of my father — that would just be a bit too Greek! — but there are definite similarities between Damian [her husband, the actor Damian Lewis] and Dad. Damian is an alpha male; he looks after me. And like Dad, he’s got a great sense of humour. Dad still takes the piss out of me.
Continue reading Relative Values: ‘I could do worse than have Damian Lewis as a son in law’
