Damian Lewishonored his late wifeHelen McCroryTuesday night while making his first stage appearance since her death.
At theNational Theatre’sA Poet for Every Day of the Yearevent held at London’s Lyttelton Theatre, theBillionsactor, 50, read a poem onstage after mentioning McCrory’s “thunder.” The actressdiedin April at age 52 after a battle with cancer.
“One person whose thunder absolutely would not be stolen was Helen McCrory. You could try, but it wouldn’t work,” Lewis said to the crowd, according to U.K.‘sThe Times. The event was dedicated to McCrory and will be available to stream on National Theatre’sYouTube pageMarch 3 for World Book Day.
McCrory was known for her roles as in theHarryPotterfilms andPeaky Blinders. She and Lewis married in 2007 after they met on the production ofFive Gold Ringsat London’s Almeida Theatre in 2003. They share daughter Manon, 15, and son Gulliver, 14.
Back in April, Lewis penned an emotional tribute forThe Sunday Times, in which hereflected on his “brilliant” wife’s life.
“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: anoutpouring of grief and shock, and a celebrationof Helen McCrory the actress from fans everywhere, and of Helen the person,” Lewis said of the actress. “And that’s who I want to talk about.”
Helen McCrory, Damian Lewis.Mike Marsland/WireImage
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TheHomelandstar said that McCrory always “spread happiness,” writing, “Even when dying in her last few days, when talking to our wonderful carers, she repeatedly said, ‘thank you so much’ in her half delirious state.”
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“I’ve never known anyone able to enjoy life as much,” Lewis said. “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.”
Lewis 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,” said Lewis. “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 ‘normalize’ 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.”
source: people.com
