Damian Lewis has paid tribute to his late wife Helen McCrory at a poetry event dedicated to the former Harry Potter and Peaky Blinders star on Tuesday night.
Lewis, 50, read a poem by Irish writer Derek Mahon in what he described as a “perfect” evening for his late wife at the National Theatre in London.
Lewis then gave a speech where he paid tribute to his wife, saying: “This evening is dedicated to her and it’s perfect, because Helen loved the National Theatre.
"One person whose thunder would absolutely not be stolen was Helen McCrory".
During the hour-long event, Lewis was joined by guests including Simon Russell Beale, Lesley Sharp and Fay Ripley.
Lewis also listened intently as a video recording was played of his wife reciting poetry at a previous event.
Writer Allie Esiri also said: “We dedicated the evening to Helen, and Damian said a few words, but we just wanted to get on and do the show.
“It’s what she would have told us to do – ‘OK, enough already, get on with the show!’
“She loved poetry and I think she would have been pleased to be kind of here with us. It felt right.”
McCrory died last April from breast cancer, aged 52.
She married Lewis in July 2007 and have two children: Manon, 15, and son, Gulliver, 14.
In 2017, she was awarded an OBE in the 2017 New Year Honours list for services to drama and had played Cherie Blair in ‘The Queen’ and Lady Macbeth at the Globe.
