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Helen McCrory, actress

Helen McCrory shares the eight tracks, book and luxury she would want to take with her if cast away to a desert island. With Lauren Laverne.

Helen McCrory shares the eight tracks, book and luxury she would want to take with her if cast away to a desert island.

Helen McCrory OBE is one of the most versatile and critically acclaimed actresses working today. On screen she has played Anna Karenina, Cherie Blair (twice), Harry Potter's Narcissa Malfoy and the Peaky Blinders matriarch Aunt Polly. Her theatre roles range from Yelena in Uncle Vanya to Euripides' Medea.

A diplomat's daughter, she spent her early childhood in Africa before continuing her education in the UK. After a bruising and unsuccessful audition at the Drama Centre in London - she was instructed to find out more about life before learning to act - she travelled to Italy where she discovered art and love and came back to try again. This time she passed the audition.

In 1993 she made her mark in Richard Eyre's production of Trelawny of the Wells at the National Theatre and went on to perform leading roles on some of London's most prestigious stages, winning two Olivier Award nominations. She was awarded an OBE for services to drama in 2017.

She met her husband, fellow actor Damian Lewis, when they both starred in a play called Five Gold Rings. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic Helen and Damian, together with the comedian Matt Lucas, co-founded the Feed NHS campaign which raises money to provide hot meals to frontline NHS workers.

Presenter: Lauren Laverne
Producer: Paula McGinley

Available now

39 minutes

Last on

Fri 3 Jul 2020 09:00

Music Played

  • Bob Dylan

    To Be Alone With You

    • Nashville Skyline.
    • Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd.
    • 3.
  • The Corries

    Will Ye Go Lassie Go

    • The Best Of The Corries.
    • Pickwick.
    • 4.
  • Miriam Makeba

    Malaika

    • Mama Africa - The Very Best of Miriam Makeba.
    • Manteca.
    • 22.
  • The Specials

    A Message To You, Rudy (feat. Rico Rodriguez)

    • The Best Of The Specials.
    • Chrysalis Records Limited.
    • 2.
  • Nicole Croisille and Pierre Barouh

    Un Homme et Une Femme (instrumental)

    • Best Of Francis Lai.
    • Warner Music.
    • 2.
  • Rufus Wainwright

    Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk

    • Poses.
    • Polydor Limited.
    • 1.
  • Grace Jones

    Pull Up To The Bumper

    • Island Life.
    • MCA.
    • 7.
  • Stevie Wonder

    Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing

    • Innervisions.
    • Universal-Island Records Limited.
    • 8.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 28 Jun 2020 11:00
  • Fri 3 Jul 2020 09:00

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