Categories Fearless

ITV’s ‘compelling’ 6-part high-stakes crime drama is coming to Netflix

Fearless, starring the late Helen McCrory, delves into a high-stakes murder case with human rights lawyer Emma Banville, determined to get justice.

Megan Bull | October 3, 2025 | Hello!

Helen McCrory posing as Emma in Fearless, with a view of London behind her.

The late Helen McCrory lends her talents to Fearless, a six-part crime drama set to debut on Netflix. The series, which was first released on ITV in 2017, will be available on the streamer from Monday, 13 October, so mark your calendars! Winning widespread critical acclaim, Fearless follows Emma Banville (McCrory), a highly skilled human rights lawyer. Determined to prove that Kevin Russell (Sam Swainsbury), a man convicted of killing schoolgirl Linda Simms (Eve Austin), is actually innocent, Emma embarks on an investigation with deadly consequences.

What is Fearless about?

A renowned human rights lawyer, Emma Banville, isn’t afraid to ruffle a few feathers. Convinced that Kevin Russell was wrongly convicted of murder, Emma reviews the 14-year-old case, leading to a retrial. As she continues to dig into the past, however, the protagonist finds herself uncovering a disturbing conspiracy, all while attracting the attention of American intelligence and counter-terrorism agencies.

Continue reading ITV’s ‘compelling’ 6-part high-stakes crime drama is coming to Netflix

Categories Last of the Haussmans

Celebrating Ian Charleson Awards 2025

The Actors Who Inspired The Stars of Tomorrow — from Ian McKellen to Helen McCrory

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The Ian Charleson Awards finalists

It’s the award every young actor covets — a chance to follow in the footsteps of previous winners like Rebecca Hall, Rory Kinnear, David Oyelowo, Cush Jumbo and Tom Hollander, and recipients such as Benedict Cumberbatch, Helen McCrory and Eddie Redmayne.

The Ian Charleson Awards celebrate the best stage performances by actors under 30 in a classical role and were established by The Sunday Times and the National Theatre in recognition of Charleson, who died of Aids aged 40 in 1990, weeks after giving an astonishing final turn as Hamlet. He inspired the Sunday Times critic John Peter to create the awards.

This year’s prize was awarded this week by the actress Sophie Okonedo and the judges were the actor Fisayo Akinade, the casting director and former head of casting at the RSC, Hannah Miller, the deputy artistic director at the National Theatre, Robert Hastie, and the head of casting at the National Theatre, Alastair Coomer. We asked the 13 stars of tomorrow to pick the actor who has most inspired them.

Finalist Madeleine Gray 

Nominated for Sonya in Uncle Vanya, Orange Tree Theatre
The daughter of an army officer, Gray, 30 (29 in role), used to cast her family in productions of King Lear. She studied theatre at University of Leeds followed by the Drama Centre London. Determined to land her role in Uncle Vanya, she sent countless emails asking for an audition.

Madeleine in Uncle Vanya

The actress who inspired me
Helen McCrory. I saw her in The Last of the Haussmans at the National Theatre. She had this magical presence and a depth of emotion: you couldn’t help but be entranced by her.

Helen in The Last of The Haussmans at the National Theatre

You can read the rest of the article in The Sunday Times

Categories Charity Peaky Blinders

Peaky Blinders Auction of Original Costumes Raises £19k for Cancer Charity

Polly’s Coat Sold In Auction For Manchester Hospital

By Mathilde Grandjean | The Independent | May 23, 2025

An auction of original costumes from BBC TV series Peaky Blinders, including a suit worn by actor Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby in the show’s final scenes, has raised £19,000 for charity.

The 48-year-old Irish actor wore the period-style grey three-piece suit in the final episode of the sixth series.

The suit, which came with a handwritten note on a piece of script found in a pocket which says: “takes off ring”, sold for £1,650.

The highest price of £3,000 was fetched by a three-piece woolen suit, also worn by Murphy as Tommy Shelby, which comes with a label reading “Tommy suit C”.

Aunt Polly’s tailored coat with stitched patterns from Series 3 Episode 4 was sold in the auction

A hat worn by Sam Claflin, who played fascist MP Oswald Mosley during series five and six, sold for £180, and a coat worn by the late Helen McCrory as Shelby family matriarch Polly Gray in episode four of series three sold for £650.

Continue reading Peaky Blinders Auction of Original Costumes Raises £19k for Cancer Charity

Categories Peaky Blinders Print Media Tributes

Peaky Blinders’ Joe Cole: ‘Helen McCrory was a force of nature’

By Helenistic | helen-mccrory.com | September 15, 2024

In a new  “What I’ve Learnt” interview with The Sunday Times, British Actor Joe Cole, who worked with Helen on Peaky Blinders,  pays a lovely tribute to her.

“Helen McCrory was a force of nature. The people who burn the brightest in this world may be the people who are taken too soon. [The actress, who played Polly Gray in Peaky Blinders, died in 2021.] It’s heartbreaking. You felt like you had to be on your toes around her, in a good way. She’d be asking you what you were doing that weekend, then she’d be cracking jokes and you’d have to have your game face on. She seized life by the balls. She was amazing with my little brother, Finn. Peaky Blinders was his first acting role. I know they were very close. She left a real mark on the world. I assumed everyone was as charismatic and funny as her, but as I’ve gone through the industry I’ve realised, oh, wait, no, that was just Helen.”

You can read the interview in its entirety here.

Categories Uncategorized

Damian Lewis to host Annual McCrory Award at Private Exhibit

The McCrory Award Private Exhibit 2024

by Helenistic | helen-mccrory.com | February 28, 2024

Damian Lewis is scheduled to host a private viewing of the “DoNotDisturb” art exhibit on March 26, 2024 at the Alon Zakaim Fine Arts gallery in London, showcasing exclusive photography pieces and black and white sketches of Helen McCrory to support the Sir Hubert von Herkomer Foundation and to honor The McCrory Award. Funds raised from the charity event will sponsor 3 young HvH Arts Foundation artistic beneficiaries who will be bestowed The McCrory Award mentorship. Sadie Frost will also co-host the occasion. More than likely there will be an online catalogue to browse for purchase through donation, typically via a prize draw and pledge to support the charity.  The inaugural event launched back on June 15, 2022.

Continue reading Damian Lewis to host Annual McCrory Award at Private Exhibit