On Friday, Mr Lewis confirmed his wife had been battling cancer and had died “surrounded by a wave of love from friends and family”.
The Homeland star has penned an emotional tribute to his Ms McCrory in the Sunday Times, calling her the meteor in our life.
He revealed that Ms McCrorys nickname to many was Dame Helen who was royalty in her own right.
Ms McCrory was a titan of British stage and screen and was awarded an OBE for services to drama in 2017.
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She was probably best known her role in Peaky Blinders but also had a critically acclaimed stage career winning plaudits for National Theatre roles in productions of Medea and Terence Rattigans post war drama The Deep Blue Sea.
Mr Lewis said that while many were reflecting on Ms McCrorys acting career, he wanted to write a special tribute to his wife who was “an even more brilliant person than she was an actress”.
She was a people person, sure, he wrote. Ive never known anyone so consciously spread happiness.
Mr Lewis said Ms McCrory had helped the family to “normalise” her death and had continued to be happy right up until the end
She told the couples two children, Manon, 14, and Gulliver, 13, not to be sad because she had lived the life she wanted to.
She has exhorted us to be courageous and not afraid, Mr Lewis said.
As she said repeatedly to the children, Dont be sad, because even though Im about to snuff it, Ive lived the life I wanted to, he wrote.
She also told the children not to be afraid of anger and that it was a positive emotion when used right.
Peaky Blinders
BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd/Tiger Aspect/Robert Viglasky
Damian Lewis and Helen McCrory arrive at the Charles Finch & CHANEL Pre-BAFTA Party at 5 Hertford Street on February 1, 2020 in London
Dave Benett
Roadkill
BBC/The Forge/Nick Wall
Helen McCrory (Polly Gray) in Peaky Blinders
Helen McCrory (Polly Gray) in Peaky Blinders
BBC/Mandabach/Tiger Aspect/Robert Viglasky
Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards 2019
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Damian Lewis and Helen McCrory attend the 65th Evening Standard Theatre Awards in association with Michael Kors at the London Coliseum on November 24, 2019
Dave Benett
Helen McCrory after she was awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II at an Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London
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Helen McCrory and Damian Lewis arrive for a reception for the British Film Industry held by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle on April 4, 2013 in Berkshire
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Damian Lewis and wife Helen McCrory ACTarriving for the 2013 Arqiva British Academy Television Awards at the Royal Festival Hall, London
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Damien Lewis and Helen McCrory arrive on day eleven of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon
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Helen McCrory arriving for the World Premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows : Part One, at the Odeon West End
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Helen McCrory arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hal
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Helen McCrory arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
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Damian Lewis and Helen McCrory during the 15th BGC annual charity day at Canary Wharf in London, in commemoration of BGC’s 658 colleagues and the 61 Eurobrokers employees lost on 9/11
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Serpentine Gallery Summer Party 2019
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Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood UK Premiere – London
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eaky Blinders with Helen McCrory as Polly Gray
BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd/Tiger Aspect/Robert Viglasky
MotherFatherSon
BBC/Laurence Cendrowicz
Roadkill
BBC/The Forge/Robert Viglasky
A Little Chaos – UK Premiere
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Helen McCrory attends the “Quiz” photocall at the Soho Hotel on February 24, 2020 in London,
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Helen McCrory performs as “Yelena” in “Donmar Warehouse’s Uncle Vanya” at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Harvey Theater January 16, 2003 in New York City
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Mr Lewis discussed Ms McCrorys final days and said that she lived by the principle of kindness and generosity until the end.
“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,” he said.
The 50-year-old said that he never knew anyone to enjoy life so muchand said that while she left their two children too early, she had prepared them for life.
Before she died she said she wanted Mr Lewis to have lots of girlfriends but urged him to wait until the funeral was over before snogging anyone.
Saying he “already missed her”, the Mr Lewis described how his wife “shone more brightly in the last months than you would imagine even the brightest star could shine”.
Shes 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. Im staggered by her. Shes been a meteor in our life, he wrote.
The couple married in 2007 and had their daughter, Manon in 2006 and son Gulliver in 2007.
Damian Lewis has shared a moving tribute to his wife Helen McCrory after the actress passed away at the age of 52.
