'Helen McCrory's most exquisite act of bravery has been to normalise her death': Damian Lewis pays tribute to late wife

Actor Damian Lewis paid a heartfelt tribute to his late wife Helen McCrory, who died last week, battling cancer. She was 52 when she breathed her last. 

Damian honoured McCrory, who was widely known for her roles as Narcissa Malfoy in the popular 'Harry Potter' films and Polly Gray in 'Peaky Blinders', in an emotional tribute written for 'The Sunday Times', in which he reflected on his "brilliant" wife's life, reported People magazine.

"Many people have spoken about her career and many more will, so that's where I'll leave it because it strikes me that two things are happening this weekend: an outpouring of grief and shock, and a celebration of Helen McCrory the actress from fans everywhere, and of Helen the person. And that's who I want to talk about," Lewis said of the actor.

"Helen was an even more brilliant person than she was an actress," the actor continued. Damian added, "She was a people person, sure. 'I'm much more interested in who I'm with than where I am,' she would say, and innately wanted to share. But she also lived by the principle of kindness and generosity. That you put these things out into the world to make it better, to make people feel better."

"I've never known anyone able to enjoy life as much. Her ability to be in the present and enjoy the moment was inspirational. Nor was she interested in navel-gazing. No real interest in self-reflection; she believed in looking out, not in. Which is why she was able to turn her light so brightly on others," Damian added. 

Damian, who married McCrory in 2007, after they met on the production of 'Five Gold Rings' at London's Almeida Theatre in 2003, said the late actor has left their two children, 14-year-old daughter Manon, and 13-year-old son Gulliver, "too early, but they have been prepared for life."

Damian also wrote in the tribute of McCrory, "She has been utterly heroic in her illness. Funny, of course -- generous, brave, uncomplaining, constantly reminding us all of how lucky we've been, how blessed we are. Her generosity has extended to encouraging us three to live. Live fully, take opportunities, have adventures. Already I miss her. She has shone more brightly in the last months than you would imagine even the brightest star could shine. In life, too, we had to rise to meet her. But her greatest and most exquisite act of bravery and generosity has been to 'normalise' her death. 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. I'm staggered by her," he added of McCrory. "She's been a meteor in our life."