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Celebrity

21st May 2022

Helen McCrory’s children give heartbreaking tributes at her memorial service

Ellen Fitzpatrick

She is dearly missed.

Heartbreaking tributes were paid on Friday by dozens of stage and screen’s biggest stars as they said their final goodbyes to Helen McCrory.

The actress sadly passed away from cancer last April at age 52 after her husband Damian Lewis revealed she died at home.

A year after she passed, Damian organised a memorial service for his late wife where their two children paid tribute to their mum with heartwrenching readings.

Their 15 year old daughter Manon read while son Gulliver, 14, played the guitar.

Helena Bonham Carter and Ralph Fiennes were two stars who appeared at St Paul’s Church in London’s Covent Garden to pay their respects, with Natascha McElhone and Eddie Redmayne also in attendance.

A family guest told the Daily Mail: “It was absolutely wonderful and Damian was fantastic in organising it despite his grief.

“We knew that she had been ill for a very long time. Battled her way through it, Peaky Blinders, other plays. She only had one arm – the operation had cut the nerve.

“She died at home with Damian and everybody around her just organising everything, including this [the memorial].”

Announcing Helen’s death last April, Damian said: “I am heartbroken to announce that after a heroic battle with cancer, the beautiful and might woman that is Helen McCrory has died peacefully at home, surrounded by a wave of love from friends and family.

“She died as she lived. Fearlessly, God, we loved her and know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives.”

Peaky Blinders paid tribute to Helen in the final series of the show, as she played beloved character Polly Grey.

The first episode was a tribute to her as her character was killed off in the first few scenes, all happening off screen and Tommy was brought to tears as he realised what had really happened.

During her funeral, the cast then stood around a burning pyre as Helen’s eyes were seen looking over them, making audiences everywhere emotional.

The episode ended with “Dedicated to the memory of Helen McCrory OBE “Polly Gray”” appearing on the screen.