Damian Lewis felt 'wiped out' as wife Helen McCrory battled cancer for years before death at 51
LONDON, UK: Actor Damian Lewis has opened up about how his wife Helen McCrory's death drained him, and how the grief began with the diagnosis of the illness itself. Helen battled cancer and died at the age of 52 in April 2021. Damian has now gone candid about the 'exhaustion' he felt for months after his wife's death.
He explained that he focused on living his best possible life and felt 'wiped out' after Helen's death as he never knew anyone other than his wife who would consciously spread happiness and enjoyed life so much.
Damian, after his wife's death, chose to cope with the loss through music as he made an album inspired by his wife. He also performed the songs from his first album in London. He always had an interest in music and went to pursue his love after the death of Helen, who had asked him to 'find love again'; he eventually did so after meeting Alison Mosshart.
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As Daily Mail reports, Damian talked about how the diagnosis of an illness itself brings a sense of grief with it as he said, "They say that the first day of diagnosis of an illness that could be terminal is the first day of your grief." Talking about the time period you witness a loved one struggling with an illness, he said, "For four or five months, you're physically drained. Helen was ill for four and a half years."
He further added that even when his wife was alive, there was a sense of 'semi-grief' and fear that things could turn for the worse at any moment. He said, "You are in a state of semi-grief while the person is still alive because there is always the sense that something might go wrong at any point."
Helen's illness was not known to the public and thus her death came as a shock. After Helen died, Damian tweeted a heartfelt tribute to her from his account as he shared a screenshot of text that read, "I'm heartbroken to announce that after an heroic battle with cancer, the beautiful and mighty woman that is Helen McCrory has died peacefully at home, surrounded by a wave of love from friends and family. She died as she lived. Fearlessly. God we love her and know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives. She blazed so brightly. Go now, Little One, into the air, and thank you."