Will Polly Gray appear in Season Six of Peaky Blinders?
Stephen Milton | February 13, 2022 | The Sunday Times
The final season of Peaky Blinders will serve as a moment of reflection after the loss of Helen McCrory, who died from cancer last year. She played Polly, the legendary matriarch of the Shelby dynasty, but the actress was forced to abandon plans to reprise her role owing to the delays in production and the deterioration of her health. Byrne reveals that McCrory will make an important appearance in the new season opener, however.
“I had footage of Helen that I didn’t use during the last season and found this really special line that sets up season six so perfectly. In the opening scene, Tommy hears Polly’s voice in his head saying, ‘There will be war and one of you will die but which one I cannot tell.’ And that sets it up between Tommy and Michael Gray [Tommy’s cousin plotting to take control of the Shelby family empire]. It was perfect, a gift.
“It’s been a surreal experience and everyone who knew Helen, and loved working with her, is still processing what has happened. She was a really wonderful person.”