Damian Lewis: “Helen McCrory, heroic even in her illness”

Your own memory, Damian Lewis has decided to give it to the Sunday Times, between whose columns he painted a vivid portrait of his wife, Helen McCrory. “It struck me how two things happened this weekend: there was a manifestation of pain and shock, a celebration of Helen McCrory, the actress with fans around the world, and a celebration of Helen, the person. . I want to talk about this, ”Lewis began, recounting the more intimate side of his wife, who passed away on Friday after a long battle with cancer.

“Helen was a far more brilliant person than she could express as an actress. He was extremely sociable. “I’m interested in who I am with, not where I am”, he repeated, giving vent to a natural need for sharing. He loved to live according to the principles of generosity and kindness, “wrote the actor, explaining how McCrory,” even as he was dying, in his final days, he continued to thank our wonderful nurses, with a “Thank you very much” pronounced in in the midst of a state of delirium ».

“I have never known someone so capable of enjoying life. His ability to anchor himself in the present and savor every moment was something to draw inspiration from. Helen has never been prey to narcissism. He never had a real interest in introspection: he believed in looking outside himself, not inside himself. And that is why he was able to illuminate the lives of others to such an extent “, continued Lewis, married to McCrory since 2007. The actor has found times and ways to tell about his children, Manon (14) and Gulliver (13), “Orphaned too soon, but prepared for life.” «They have within them the courage, the insight, the curiosity, the talent and the beauty of their mother. You exhorted us to be strong, not frightened. ” “Helen was heroic in her illness. She was funny, she was brave, she never complained. On the contrary, he urged all of us to take note of how lucky we have been, of how much life has given us. He encouraged us to live: to live fully, to seize opportunities, to have adventures ».

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