Carey Mulligan dedicates her Promising Young Woman Award to recently passed Helen McCrory

Carey Mulligan has won an Independent Spirit Award for her role in Promising Young Woman and has dedicated it to Helen McCrory, who recently passed away after a “heroic battle” with cancer. 

Promising Young Woman is the latest must-watch movie and fans can’t stop talking about its important themes and stunning acting. So impressive is Carey Mulligan’s performance as Cassie in particular, that she has been nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for it. 

But whilst we can’t help looking forward to settling down with our best pillow to watch the Oscars 2021 Ceremony soon, Carey has already won a brilliant award. The acclaimed actor won Best Female Lead for Promising Young Woman at the Independent Spirit Awards. 

Speaking via video link Carey accepted her award and went on to thank Emerald Fennell, who won an Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay for the same film.

"I need to just thank first and foremost Emerald Fennell for her complete genius in writing and directing and producing this work”, Carey said, before also thanking the cast and the crew who worked on the film.

And in a highly touching moment during her speech, Carey dedicated her award to fellow actor Helen McCrory who tragically passed away last week.

"I want to dedicate this award to a true independent spirit, an actress that I have looked up to and will continue to look up to for the rest of my career: Helen McCrory," Carey declared. "Thank you to her for everything she gave us."

When did Helen McCrory pass away?

Carey’s moving dedication to Helen McCrory comes a week after it was announced that the talented actor had passed away after a “heroic battle” with cancer. 

Helen was perhaps best known for her roles as Polly Gray in BBC’s Peaky Blinders and Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter film series.

The sad news of her death was announced by her husband Damian Lewis in a heartfelt Twitter statement.

‘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', he wrote.

‘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.’

Since losing his beloved wife, Damian has gone on to write a poignant piece for The Sunday Times in tribute to her. 

As part of this, he shared how her bravery shone through when she told him to have “lots” of girlfriends after her death.

Speaking of his wife’s strength in the darkest of times, he declared: “I’m staggered by her. She’s been a meteor in our life.”