National Theatre Archives

Celebrating Ian Charleson Awards 2025

On June 2, 2025June 2, 2025 By helenistic No Comments

The Actors Who Inspired The Stars of Tomorrow — from Ian McKellen to Helen McCrory

Jake Helm | Blanca Schofield | Ceci Browning | May 31 2025 | The Sunday Times

White background. — The Ian Charleson Awards finalists

It’s the award every young actor covets — a chance to follow in the footsteps of previous winners like Rebecca Hall, Rory Kinnear, David Oyelowo, Cush Jumbo and Tom Hollander, and recipients such as Benedict Cumberbatch, Helen McCrory and Eddie Redmayne.

The Ian Charleson Awards celebrate the best stage performances by actors under 30 in a classical role and were established by The Sunday Times and the National Theatre in recognition of Charleson, who died of Aids aged 40 in 1990, weeks after giving an astonishing final turn as Hamlet. He inspired the Sunday Times critic John Peter to create the awards.

This year’s prize was awarded this week by the actress Sophie Okonedo and the judges were the actor Fisayo Akinade, the casting director and former head of casting at the RSC, Hannah Miller, the deputy artistic director at the National Theatre, Robert Hastie, and the head of casting at the National Theatre, Alastair Coomer. We asked the 13 stars of tomorrow to pick the actor who has most inspired them.

Finalist Madeleine Gray

Nominated for Sonya in Uncle Vanya, Orange Tree Theatre
The daughter of an army officer, Gray, 30 (29 in role), used to cast her family in productions of King Lear. She studied theatre at University of Leeds followed by the Drama Centre London. Determined to land her role in Uncle Vanya, she sent countless emails asking for an audition.

Madeleine in Uncle Vanya

The actress who inspired me
Helen McCrory. I saw her in The Last of the Haussmans at the National Theatre. She had this magical presence and a depth of emotion: you couldn’t help but be entranced by her.

Helen in The Last of The Haussmans at the National Theatre

You can read the rest of the article in The Sunday Times

Medea Tributes

Danny Sapani Pays Tribute to Helen McCrory In A New Interview

On February 7, 2024February 7, 2024 By helenistic No Comments

Partnering with Helen in Medea

By Helenistic | helen-mccrory.com | February 6, 2024

Helen with Danny Sapani in rehearsals for Medea

In a new interview with The Telegraph, British Actor Danny Sapani , who is preparing for his role of King Lear at the Almeida, pays a lovely tribute to Helen. Sapani shared the stage with Helen in Medea at the National Theatre in 2014.

“It’s hard not to think of death even when you’re in your early 50s. When you hit 50, it’s like walking down sniper’s alley. All sorts of health issues come into play. Impending mortality feels present.” And he says that he still mourns the loss of Helen McCrory, at 52, “We knew each other before Medea. We were close, and I think about her a lot doing this. Working with her was a highlight of my career. She was meticulous about every detail and she changed the way I worked.”

You can read Sapani’s interview in its entirety in The Telegraph here.

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

On July 21, 2022July 21, 2022 By helenistic No Comments

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.

Damian Lewis Theatre Tributes

Family and Friends Attend Helen McCrory Memorial at the Actors Church

On May 20, 2022September 30, 2022 By helenistic No Comments

A Celebration of Helen McCrory’s Life and Personality

Helenistic | helen-mccrory.com | May 20, 2022

Damian Lewis hosted a private event at St. Paul’s Church, Covent Garden (aka The Actors’ Church) to celebrate Helen McCrory’s life and her formidable personality.

There was laughter, tears and a standing ovation in Helen’s honor.

You can see part of the program in theatre critic Dom Cavendish’s tweet. One cannot help remember that Helen chose “To Be Alone with You” as one of her favorite tunes in Desert Island Discs and she added that she had a blank check from Damian to run away with Bob Dylan 🙂 Continue reading Family and Friends Attend Helen McCrory Memorial at the Actors Church

Damian Lewis Events Personal and Family Life Poetry Readings Tributes Video

A Poet for Every Day of the Year Video at the National Theatre

On March 4, 2022March 4, 2022 By helenistic No Comments

Poetry Event Dedicated to Helen McCrory

by National Theatre | YouTube | March 3, 2022

Join us to journey through a calendar year in poetry, read by actors on stage at the National Theatre. Allie Esiri and Damian Lewis were joined by friends including Simon Russell Beale, Fay Ripley, Danny Sapani and Lesley Sharp. Chris Riddell live drew the evening. A Poet for Every Day of the Year is dedicated to Helen McCrory, who took part in some of these poetry evenings in previous years.

Signed copies of A Poet for Every Day of the Year are available from the National Theatre Bookshop here. Every purchase supports the work of the National Theatre: https://shop.nationaltheatre.org.uk/p…

This event was performed on the Lyttelton stage, National Theatre, London on Tuesday 25 January 2022.

Continue reading A Poet for Every Day of the Year Video at the National Theatre