'Harry Potter' actor Helen McCrory dies at 52

Actress Helen McCrory, known for her roles in 'Peaky Blinders' and three 'Harry Potter' films as Narcissa Malfoy, has died of cancer at the age of 52, according to her husband, the actor Damian Lewis.

Damian Lewis took to his Twitter account on Friday and shared the heartbreaking news with fans. He wrote, "I'm heartbroken to announce that after an 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 family and friends."

He further added, "She died as she lived. Fearlessly. God, we love her and we know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives. She blazed so brightly. Go now, Little One, into the air, and thank you."

 April 16, 2021

For the uninformed, McCrory played Aunt Polly, the matriarch of the Shelby clan, in BBC period gang drama 'Peaky Blinders'. She also played the role of Draco Malfoy's mother Narcissa Malfoy in three 'Harry Potter' films. 

Her other roles included playing former Prime Minister Tony Blair's wife Cherie in the films 'The Queen', and 'The Special Relationship', and she provided the voice of Stelmaria, Lord Asriel's snow leopard daemon, in the recent BBC One TV series 'His Dark Materials'.

Apart from McCrory's film and TV credits, she also had a long and acclaimed career on stage. Born in Paddington, England, to a Welsh mother and Scottish father, McCrory enjoyed much success.

McCrory married 'Homeland' actor Lewis in 2007. They had two children together Manon McCrory-Lewis and Gulliver Lewis.