Categories Awards Damian Lewis Events Film Festivals Tributes

Helen McCrory Receives a Posthumous Icon Award at Raindance Film Festival

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Tribute to Helen at Raindance Film Festival

by Helenistic | helen-mcrory.com | October 25, 2022

The 30th Raindance Film Festival is currently taking place at several venues across London. The festival organizers have announced on social media that Damian Lewis has accepted a posthumous Icon Award in tribute to Helen McCrory. Helen was on the 19th Raindance Film Festival Jury in 2011 and Damian is on the jury this year. The festival also announced the recipients of this year’s Raindance Icon Award,: Vanessa Redgrave, Jonathan Pryce and Gemma Arterton. Some recipients will receive their award at the Opening Gala Party on October 26 and others at the Awards Ceremony on Friday, November 4.

The Radio Times reports Damian said:

“I’m honoured to accept the posthumous Raindance Icon Award on Helen’s behalf. She’d be pleased as punch to be receiving it. There was no more fiercely independent spirit than Helen and in her attitude towards work. She loved her time on the Raindance jury and being able to view films made with that same liberated energy. Raindance and Helen – it’s a perfect match.”

Continue reading Helen McCrory Receives a Posthumous Icon Award at Raindance Film Festival

Categories Charity Damian Lewis Personal and Family Life Print Media Sir Hubert Von Herkomer Arts Foundation

9/11 trading day helps to continue Helen McCrory’s legacy, says charity founder

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BGC Charity Day

By Ellie Iorizzo | The Evening Standard | September 29, 2022

Since its launch in 2004, BGC and its celebrity ambassadors have raised around 192 million dollars (£176 million) for global charitable causes.

Damian Lewis during the BGC annual charity day at Canary Wharf in London (Kirsty O’Connor/PA)Damian Lewis during the BGC annual charity day at Canary Wharf in London (Kirsty O’Connor/PA) / PA Wire

Peaky Blinders star Helen McCrory’s “legacy” is maintained through the charity she helped to establish before her death which benefits massively from the 9/11 trading day, the charity’s founder has said.

Film and stage star Damian Lewis, 51, returned to the BGC Partners brokerage firm in Canary Wharf on Thursday to support the Sir Hubert Von Herkomer Arts Foundation (HVH Arts) – for which his late wife McCrory was patron.

Lewis, who was also supporting the charity Cure EB, told the PA news agency:

“I love the idea of trading, I would be terrible at it in real life.”

Continue reading 9/11 trading day helps to continue Helen McCrory’s legacy, says charity founder

Categories Peaky Blinders Print Media

Peaky Blinders VR video game to “honour” Helen McCrory

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Honoring Helen

by Aimee Ferrier | Far Away | September 26, 2022

Helen McCrory, who played the enigmatic Aunt Polly Gray in Peaky Blinders, passed away after battling cancer at just 52 years old last April. The actress was due to star in the sixth season of the revered show, as well as lend her voice to the VR game Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom.

Since McCrory’s passing, the show’s writers made the decision to have Polly die too. A few months ago, creator Steven Knight shared that “She is still a very strong influence on Tommy, and therefore the whole thing. Her death is a catalyst for a lot of stuff that happens, all the way up to the end of episode six.”

Categories Damian Lewis Personal and Family Life Print Media Sir Hubert Von Herkomer Arts Foundation Tributes

Thousands raised in memory of ‘inspiring’ brother and his aunt, Helen McCrory

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Riding all the way from London to Madrid  for Hugo and Helen

Lily Ford | July 21, 2022 |  Evening Standard

An Army officer has raised thousands of pounds for charity by cycling 2,100 kilometres from London to Madrid in memory of his “inspiring” brother and his aunt, actress Helen McCrory.

Tom Yaxley, 32, is the brother of Hugo Yaxley and nephew of McCrory, who died from cancer in April 2021 aged 52.

Mr Yaxley has embarked on the cycle across Europe for Ride4Hugo, a series of fundraising events organised by friends and family which have earned more than £115,000 for four charities.

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Categories Peaky Blinders Print Media

‘Peaky Blinders’ EP Caryn Mandabach on How Tommy – and Aunt Polly – Got the Series Finale They Deserved

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Farewell to Aunt Polly

Emily Vogel | The Wrap | July 14, 2022

Despite “Peaky Blinders” being centered on a gang in the 1900s with razor blades sewed into their caps, it’s the women – both on and off the screen – who are the sharpest of the bunch. Leading the pack is executive producer Caryn Mandabach, whose company Caryn Mandabach Productions owns and operates the Peaky Blinders IP. “I’m the studio, as we would say in America…. Pretend I’m Sony” she told WrapWomen during a recent Zoom interview.

But being the boss is a double-edged razor. On one end, Mandabach gets to oversee exciting projects like partnering with Bushmills Irish Whiskey on a special Peaky Blinders recipe. On the other, Mandabach must always keep her business cap on – no matter how tough the situation.

Continue reading ‘Peaky Blinders’ EP Caryn Mandabach on How Tommy – and Aunt Polly – Got the Series Finale They Deserved