Tribute to Helen

We welcome your tribute to the beloved Helen McCrory. Please leave your comments at this link.

If you wish to make a donation, the McCrory-Lewis family has asked that donations be made to the Sir Hubert von Herkomer Arts Foundation here.

Cillian Murphy wrote in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, “I am broken-hearted to lose such a dear friend. Helen was a beautiful, caring, funny, compassionate human being. She was also a gifted actor — fearless and magnificent. She elevated and made humane every scene, every character she played. It was a privilege to have worked with this brilliant woman, to have shared so many laughs over the years. I will dearly miss my pal. My love and thoughts are with Damian and her family.”

Caryn Mandabach, Peaky Blinders executive producer shared an exclusive statement with Deadline on McCrory’s passing: “When Steve first conceived of the character of Polly, he said that if something should happen to Tommy, Polly would run the business. Only an actress with the depth of humanity that Helen possessed could have taken on that mantle. In truth I wish that Helen could have run the world’s business, because she was that cool.”

Peaky Blinders Creator Steven Knight said: “Helen was one of the great actors of her generation. She was so powerful and controlled and this is so sad.”

Skyfall Director Sam Mendes stated, “An astonishing talent, a fabulous person, and an absolute true original. The film and theatre world has lost a one of a kind actress, and her family and friends have been robbed of an extraordinary, indomitable spirit. The world will be an infinitely poorer place without Helen in it.”

BBC Director of drama Piers Wenger stated, “Helen was one of the finest actresses this country will ever see. Helen’s fearlessness made every part she played unique and unmissable. Her body of work speaks of her extraordinary talent, what it doesn’t speak of is her kindness, intelligence and sense of fun. This is too soon, too cruel.”

National Theatre Artistic Director Rufus Norris said, “She was unquestionably one of the great actors of her generation.”

Carrie Cracknell, who directed McCrory in a stage production of Medea, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I can honestly say that working with Helen was one of the highlights of my professional life. She had this extraordinary, fierce depth of character and complexity and ability to articulate so many parts of the human condition. She was this tiny, tiny woman and she would stand in the middle of the Olivier stage and sort of be possessed really, it was like she was transforming. She faced up to it [illness] with a level of bravery and humour that was completely extraordinary and as ever was teaching people how to live so it was a remarkable thing.”

Sir Richard Eyre, who gave Helen one of her first significant stage roles in the 1990s, said one of the most upsetting things about her death was that “we will be deprived of major performances that she would have been able to give” and described her as a successor to Dame Judi Dench.