Helen McCrory, Actress Who Portrayed Narcissa Malfoy, Dies at Age 52
MuggleNet is sad to report that acclaimed actress Helen McCrory, who played Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter series, has died at age 52.
A tweet from her husband, actor Damian Lewis, stated that she passed away peacefully at home with her family “surrounded by a wave of love.” He revealed that McCrory had been fighting a private battle with cancer.
— Damian Lewis (@lewis_damian) April 16, 2021
McCrory first appeared in the Potter series in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, in the movie’s ominous Unbreakable Vow opening scene. She was originally cast in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix as Bellatrix Lestrange but was unable to play the role due to becoming pregnant.
She reprised the role of Narcissa in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, appearing in the meeting between the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters at Malfoy Manor, and Part 2, when the trio is brought to Malfoy Manor and during the Battle of Hogwarts. In a 2011 interview, she expressed sadness that the series was coming to an end and wished that she could have been a part of it for longer. She said that her favorite scene to film was the Battle of Hogwarts:
It was quite extraordinary standing in a line with the cast in full makeup and the Death Eaters behind you and tons of extras. And then on top of that, you had all the fires and explosions and the stuntmen running around. […] It was extraordinarily electrifying. I’ll never forget those 5 a.m. scenes in the midst of a cold winter morning in England.
McCrory had a long career on both the stage and screen. In addition to Harry Potter, her silver screen appearances included Skyfall, The Queen, and The Special Relationship. In the world of television, she played Aunt Polly in the hugely popular series Peaky Blinders and most recently voiced the daemon Stelmaria in the His Dark Materials series.
McCrory’s work in theater was highly regarded. She received an Olivier nomination in 2006 for her portrayal of Rosalind in Shakespeare’s As You Like It, and in 2017, she was awarded an OBE for services to drama.
Fellow actors and those working in TV, film, and theater have been paying tribute to McCrory. Among them is actor and comedian Matt Lucas, who, besides remembering her acting career, paid tribute to McCrory’s generosity in her charitable work. Last year, McCrory, Lewis, and Lucas raised an astounding one million pounds to donate healthy meals to NHS workers who were on call during the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom.
Helen McCrory will be remembered not just for her remarkable stage and screen performances, but also for her selflessness and generosity. She and Damian were the motor driving FeedNHS, working tirelessly during the pandemic to raise millions for others. What a tremendous loss.
— Matt Lucas (@RealMattLucas) April 16, 2021
Actor and writer Mark Gatiss also sent his best wishes to her family while remembering her “firecracker” personality.
Unbearable and unbelievable that Helen McCrory has gone. A genuine firecracker with an aching vulnerability. A wonderful actor and a wonderful woman. Thoughts with Damian and family. RIP
— Mark Gatiss 💙 (@Markgatiss) April 16, 2021
We here at MuggleNet send our deepest condolences to Helen McCrory’s family and friends at this time.
