Tom Felton pays tribute to Harry Potter co-star Helen McCrory following her death from cancer

Tom Felton has dedicated a touching tribute to his Harry Potter co-star Helen McCrory, who passed away after a ‘heroic’ battle with cancer on Friday aged 52.

Writing on Instagram, the Draco Malfoy actor, 33, thanked Helen – who played his onscreen mother, Narcissa Malfoy – for ‘lighting the way forward and holding my hand when I needed it.’

Standing next to Helen in a still taken from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Tom also shared: ‘I never took the chance to tell her , but she helped shape me as a person so much – on and off screen.’

Sad: Tom Felton, 33, has dedicated a touching Instagram tribute to his Harry Potter co-star Helen McCrory, who passed away after a ‘heroic’ battle with cancer on Friday aged 52

The actor wrote in full: ‘So sad to say farewell so suddenly – I never took the chance to tell her , but she helped shape me as a person so much – on & off screen.

‘She was always relentlessly herself- razor sharp wit – silver tongued – kind & warm hearted – she suffered no fools yet had time for everyone.’

He concluded: ‘thank you for lighting the way forward & holding my hand when I needed it.’

The ‘beautiful and mighty’ actress, who played Polly Gray in Peaky Blinders and Narcissa Malfoy in Harry Potter, died ‘peacefully’ at home surrounded by friends and family on Friday.

Grateful: The Draco Malfoy actor thanked Helen - who played his onscreen mother, Narcissa Malfoy - for 'lighting the way forward' (pictured with Harry Potter cast)

Grateful: The Draco Malfoy actor thanked Helen – who played his onscreen mother, Narcissa Malfoy – for ‘lighting the way forward’ (pictured with Harry Potter cast)

Heartfelt: The actor wrote: 'So sad to say farewell so suddenly - I never took the chance to tell her , but she helped shape me as a person so much - on & off screen'

Heartfelt: The actor wrote: ‘So sad to say farewell so suddenly – I never took the chance to tell her , but she helped shape me as a person so much – on & off screen’

Helen’s husband, Homeland star Damian Lewis, announced the news on Twitter.

He tweeted: ‘I’m heartbroken to announce that after a 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.’

Helen was awarded the OBE for services to drama in the 2017 New Years Honours.

Her other movie roles included playing MP Clair Dowar in Skyfall and Cherie Blair in The Queen and The Special Relationship.

On television, she appeared in Doctor Who, Inside No 9 and His Dark Materials, and last year appeared in the Hugh Laurie drama Roadkill on the BBC and ITV’s Quiz.

She also had an accomplished stage career, winning plaudits for National Theatre roles in productions of Medea and Terence Rattigan’s The Deep Blue Sea.

Helen was also was nominated for an Olivier for her role as Rosalind in As You Like It in at London’s Wyndham’s theatre in 2006.

Family: Helen and Damian married in 2007, the actress shared daughter Manon, 14, and son Gulliver, 13, with the actor (the couple pictured in February last year)

Family: Helen and Damian married in 2007, the actress shared daughter Manon, 14, and son Gulliver, 13, with the actor (the couple pictured in February last year) 

Heartbroken: The Peaky Blinders star passed away after a 'heroic' battle with cancer, Damian announced on Friday night

Heartbroken: The Peaky Blinders star passed away after a ‘heroic’ battle with cancer, Damian announced on Friday night 

Her husband led tributes to the star tonight along with JK Rowling, Michael Sheen, Taron Egerton, Cillian Murphy and Kate Beckinsale.

Helen and Damian married in 2007 after falling in love when they were both cast in the play Five Gold Rings at the off-West End Almeida Theatre back in 2003.

The couple were last seen during an appearance on Good Morning Britain last month, where they appeared to speak about their charity work for the Prince’s Trust and the Prince’s Trust Awards.

Helen and Damian led fundraising efforts to provide hot meals for NHS staff during the pandemic.

Their work led to almost £1million in donations to the Feed NHS scheme, and partnerships with chains including Leon and Wasabi.

Tragic: Helen and Damian led fundraising efforts to provide hot meals for NHS staff during the pandemic (pictured 2019)

Tragic: Helen and Damian led fundraising efforts to provide hot meals for NHS staff during the pandemic (pictured 2019)