Helen McCrory and Mark Strong honoured with best actor gongs at Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards

Helen McCrory was today honoured by theatre critics for a role she feared would kill her - but which husband Damian Lewis pleaded with her to take.

McCrory, 46, was named best actress at the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards, for her title role performance in Medea.

She said it was “daunting” to be asked to star as a child murderer in the National Theatre’s first ever production of the Greek tragedy but laughed as she recalled how Lewis thought it was a challenge she should accept.

“I said to Damian, ‘This could kill me’. And he begged me tirelessly, to do it,” she said.

Mark Strong was named best actor for A View From The Bridge, which previews at the Wyndham’s Theatre from February 11 after a sell-out run at the Young Vic.

It was his first performance on stage in 12 years. He said: “It’s wonderful when I’ve been away for so long to get an award and for that tiny theatre to have done so well.”

Its director, Ivo van Hove, was named best director while King Charles III by Mike Bartlett was named best new play, and Gypsy, starring Imelda Staunton, was named best musical.