Helen McCrory: ‘Peaky Blinders’ Star Dies Of Cancer At Age 52

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

He wrote a moving message about his late wife on Twitter announcing her passing, and offered a snapshot of what kind of person she was: "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 friends and family. She died as she lived. Fearlessly. God we love her and 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."

Peaky Blinder official Twitter also paid tribute to the actress, saying: "Helen McCrory as Polly Gray

All our love and thoughts are with Helen’s family.

Rest in peace."

McCrory played Polly Gray, the matriarch of the Shelby clan, alongside Cillian Murphy in all five seasons of the hit period gang drama. According to BBC, she said of her character: "She really is the brains with Tommy behind the family and you see the difference of how to rule."

McCrory also played Narcissa Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. Her character was the wife of Lucius Malfoy and Draco's mother.

McCrory is survived by her husband Damien Lewis, whom she wed in 2007, and their two children.