Damian Lewis, Helen McCrory James Veysey/Shutterstock
Always in their heart. Damian LewisHe paid tribute to Helen McCrory, his wife of 62 years, and spoke about her participation in the annual Soccer Aid charity tournament.
“When she came to Soccer Aid the very first time [in 2006] and I got into my hotel room up in Manchester in The Lowry, it was covered in Union Jack bunting and England flags everywhere, which she had gone out and bought and decorated the room with,” the Homeland51-year-old alum was remembered during an appearance on Good Morning BritainThursday, June 9, 2009. This year’s tournament will mark the fifth time that Lewis has taken part in the charity event, which features English celebrities and soccer legends playing against a team of international players to raise money for UNICEF U.K. “So, she’s with us. … She’s with us again this year.”
McCrory’s spirit was also felt at the memorial service that Lewis recently held for her. Some of the family attended the memorial. Peaky Blinders actress’ famous friends, including Helena Bonham Carter Bodyguardstar Keeley Hawes.
“That [service] we had the other day … was a special day, I’m very glad [so many people] could have been part of it,” he said. “She was celebrated by, you know, her tribe, her profession, the acting profession – actors, directors, producers, writers – all showed up and she’s much, much missed,” the Billions star added, describing his late wife as a “fabulous human being.”
McCrory was married to Lewis in 2007. SkyfallAfter a private battle against breast cancer, the actress died at 52. “I’m heartbroken to announce that after a heroic battle with cancer, the beautiful and mighty woman that is Helen McCrory has died peacefully at home, surrounded by a wave of love from friends and family,” the Golden Globe nominee — who shares daughter Manon, 15, and son Gulliver, 14, with his late wife — wrote via Twitter at the time. “She died as she lived. Fearlessly.”
He continued: “God, we love her and know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives. She shined so brightly. Go now, Little One, into the air, and thank you.”
Lewis gushed about her in the days that followed her death. Harry PotterStar in a touching tribute to the Sunday Times, writing that she was “an even more brilliant person than she was an actress.”
“I’ve never known anyone able to enjoy life as much,” he continued in the April 2021 essay. “Her ability to be in the present and enjoy the moment was inspirational. She was not interested in navel-gazing. She had no interest in self-reflection. She believed in looking out, and not in. Which is why she was able to turn her light so brightly on others.”
The England native added that their children “have in them the fearlessness, wit, curiosity, talent and beauty of their mother,” and revealed that before her death, McCrory wanted them to know that she had “lived the life I wanted to” and loved them deeply. “She’s shown no fear, no bitterness, no self-pity, only armed us with the courage to go on and insisted that no one be sad, because she is happy.”
Tom FeltonDraco Malfoy was played by, Harry Potter films, also shared a heartfelt tribute to his onscreen mother shortly after her death “I never took the chance to tell her, but she helped shape me as a person so much — on & off screen,” the 33-year-old wrote via Instagram at the time. “She was always relentlessly herself — razor sharp wit – silver tongued – kind & warm hearted — she suffered no fools yet had time for everyone — thank you for lighting the way forward & holding my hand when I needed it xx.”
