Clair Dowar MP

The Right Honourable Clair Dowar MP serves as the Home Secretary of the United Kingdom. Played by the late British actress Helen McCrory, she’s a minor character in the 2012 James Bond film, Skyfall.

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Known for her unwavering determination and strong opinions, she’s focused on removing M from her position at the earliest opportunity. However, her plans are disrupted when her colleague Mallory intervenes, and the situation takes a dramatic turn with the unexpected arrival of the determined villain, Raoul Silva in the courtroom.

Clair Dowar MP

Clair Dowar is the current Home Secretary presiding over M‘s trial. She consistently expresses a negative stance on M’s recent actions during the security crisis, yet she is not inclined to silence M’s voice in the proceedings.

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When prompted by Mallory, she allows M to present her own opinions and appears intrigued by M’s speech about the increasing danger posed by their adversaries.

During the courtroom scene, Clair Dowar is present when Raoul Silva attempts to execute M. As soon as she notices Silva and his two armed cohorts, she swiftly dives behind the head desk for cover.

Bond, uses fire extinguishers to create a smokescreen, and provides an opportunity for Dowar to escape the courthouse unharmed, thanks to the efforts of Eve Moneypenny. Although her status remains unknown, it’s been confirmed that she managed to escape, albeit with injuries.

Helen McCrory

Helen McCrory OBE was a highly acclaimed English actress, who studied at the Drama Centre in London and made her stage debut in 1990. She gained recognition for her portrayal of Rose Trelawny in Trelawny of the ‘Wells’ at the National Theatre in 1993, earning her third prize at the Ian Charleson Awards.

Her success on stage led to opportunities in film and television, with supporting roles in Interview with the Vampire, Charlotte Gray, The Count of Monte Cristo, and Casanova. She portrayed Cherie Blair in The Queen and reprised the role in The Special Relationship. McCrory also appeared in Bond 23, Skyfall as MP Clair Dowar. In 2013, she began playing Polly Gray in the popular British TV series Peaky Blinders, and she received critical acclaim for her role in the National Theatre’s production of Medea in 2014.

Outside of her acting career, McCrory married fellow actor Damian Lewis in 2007 and had two children with him. She was honored with an OBE in 2017 for her contributions to drama. Tragically, Helen McCrory passed away on April 16th, 2021 at the age of 52 after privately battling breast cancer. Her passing was announced by her husband, Damian Lewis, on Twitter. At the time of her death, she was filming for Peaky Blinders, and the production had to make changes to accommodate her absence.