Helen Elizabeth McCrory was an English theater and film actress. Her most notable role was as Polly Gray in the hit gangster drama Peaky Blinders. Other notable roles include Narcissa Malfoy in the final three Harry Potter films, Mama Jeanne in Martin Scorsese’s family film Hugo (2011), and Clair Dowar in the James Bond film Skyfall. She was also an accomplished theater actress having played Lady Macbeth in Macbeth at Shakespeare’s Globe, Olivia in Twelfth Night, and Rosalind in As You Like It in the West End.
McCrory was born in Paddington in London on 17 August 1968. After studying at the Drama Centre London, she made her stage debut in The Importance of Being Earnest in 1990. McCrory won Third Prize at the Ian Charleson Awards for her 1993 performance as Rose Trelawny in Trelawny of the ‘Wells’ at the National Theatre. Her first pregnancy forced her to pull out of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), in which she had been cast as Bellatrix Lestrange but was later recast as Narcissa Malfoy in the final three films. She was most known for playing Polly Gray in the Peaky Blinders. She died from cancer at her home in London on 16 April 2021, at age 52.
1 If you think you are beautiful in a scene, you will come across as beautiful. -Helen McCrory
It does not matter what the world thinks or says about you. What matters is what you think of yourself as beautiful and enough, then you won’t need anyone else’s validation.
2 You don’t learn from good people, they’ve found what works for them and are completely original; you learn from the people who are bad. -Helen McCrory
The most important life lessons are given to us by those who are bad at something. We need to learn from their mistakes and try not to repeat them. The good ones are there because they’ve done something original that works for them.
3 My grandmother taught me that happiness is both a skill and a decision, and you are responsible for the outcome. -Helen McCrory
Only we are responsible for our happiness. It’s a conscious decision that we make. The power to be happy rests solely in our hands. It’s a skill as well as a decision.
4 I feel as though my life is bathed in golden sunlight, And the really wonderful thing is that I know it. Helen McCrory
Look around yourself, and you’ll realize how beautiful your life is. There are so many things to be happy about, so many blessings that often go unnoticed. When you are aware of all these beautiful things in life, you’ll understand how precious your life is.
5 Every time, at any point of my life, I think now is always the best age to be. -Helen McCrory
The best time to live in is today, the present. There is no other place good enough for you to be in than the current moment. So enjoy every minute you have in the world, cause you won’t have enough of it.
6 If I were in politics, I’d make both left and right sit down and make good decisions about national health -Helen McCrory
Politics has become such a dirty game. Politicians constantly try to manipulate people for their votes. And the truth is that no one thinks of the health of the people. All that they think of is their own personal gains.
7 I think change is good because it teaches you that it’s nothing to be frightened of. -Helen McCrory
Change is the most important and only constant thing in life. Being afraid of change is stupid as there is no way to avoid it. Those who refuse to change will not be able to survive in this world.
8 If you’re constantly frightened of being unhappy, how bloody exhausting must that be? -Helen McCrory
The fear of sorrow is often what causes it. Learn to live in the moment, instead of anticipating the future and being afraid of it. Let life throw whatever it can at you. All you need to do is to face it head-on.
9 I’ve become more confident as I have got older, I care less what others think. Helen McCrory
You learn to be more confident as you grow older. You realize that life doesn’t revolve around making others happy. What matters is that you are happy with yourself. What others think should be none of your concern.
10 As I’ve got older, I feel more confident in my body, so wouldn’t want to tamper with it. -Helen McCrory
Beauty standards are exhausting and unreal. What matters is that you feel beautiful from within. Learn to be comfortable in your own body. Nothing else should matter to you.
11 Actually, I’m looking forward to being 50, because to me, that’s when a woman is at the pinnacle of her femininity and her womanhood. -Helen McCrory
Your age does not define you. What matters is the way you think of yourself. With old age comes maturity and a coherent understanding of the world and your own life. That is the time when you can truly express yourself.
12 So often when you meet child actors, they’re weird – they’re freaks, No, I mean it, they’re really odd people. -Helen McCrory
Children are really odd. Their curious minds often get the better of them. And their immaturity adds to their amusing and weird selves. And they can still be just as fun to be with.
13 There’s no ambition in having money in the bank for the sake of it. -Helen McCrory
The truth is that you need money to survive in this world. But there’s no point in hoarding money just for the sake of it. Learn to enjoy life with whatever you can. You only have this one life to live and no second chances at it.
14 People are not considerate of others, They tend not to consider themselves as all living together, but see themselves only as individuals. -Helen McCrory
People these days have become too selfish and self-centered. We live in an era where we’ve lost the true connection with the world and the people. We have distanced ourselves from most around us and live as though we are all that matters in this life.
15 People who are exceptionally intelligent are often lonely because there are few people as intelligent as them. -Helen McCrory
People who are really intelligent find it difficult to socialize. They often feel disconnected from the rest of us. Their intellect isolates them entirely.
15 Insightful Quotes by Helen McCrory
1. If you think you are beautiful in a scene, you will come across as beautiful. -Helen McCrory
2. You don’t learn from good people, they’ve found what works for them and are completely original; you learn from the people who are bad. -Helen McCrory
3. My grandmother taught me that happiness is both a skill and a decision, and you are responsible for the outcome. -Helen McCrory
4. I feel as though my life is bathed in golden sunlight, And the really wonderful thing is that I know it. Helen McCrory
5. Every time, at any point of my life, I think now is always the best age to be. -Helen McCrory
6. If I were in politics, I’d make both left and right sit down and make good decisions about national health -Helen McCrory
7. I think change is good because it teaches you that it’s nothing to be frightened of. -Helen McCrory
8. If you’re constantly frightened of being unhappy, how bloody exhausting must that be? -Helen McCrory
9. I’ve become more confident as I have got older, I care less what others think. Helen McCrory
10. As I’ve got older, I feel more confident in my body, so wouldn’t want to tamper with it. -Helen McCrory
11. Actually, I’m looking forward to being 50, because to me, that’s when a woman is at the pinnacle of her femininity and her womanhood. -Helen McCrory
12. So often when you meet child actors, they’re weird – they’re freaks, No, I mean it, they’re really odd people. -Helen McCrory
13. There’s no ambition in having money in the bank for the sake of it. -Helen McCrory
14. People are not considerate of others, They tend not to consider themselves as all living together, but see themselves only as individuals. -Helen McCrory
15. People who are exceptionally intelligent are often lonely because there are few people as intelligent as them. -Helen McCrory