Categories Broadcast Media Peaky Blinders Tributes

Cillian Murphy Remembers Helen McCrory on BBC Interview

Murphy: “We’ve been through a lot together.”

By Helenistic | helen-mccrory.com | February 26, 2022

Cillian Murphy talks about Peaky Blinders and his close pal Helen McCrory in the following interview with the BBC.

Categories Broadcast Media Peaky Blinders Tributes

Famous faces reflect on working with Peaky Blinders star Helen McCrory

Remembering Helen on BBC One Show

By Ellie Jorizzo | PA Entertainment | February 25, 2022

Welsh actor Taron Egerton and Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey have reminisced about sharing the stage with the late Helen McCrory. McCrory, who played Shelby family matriarch Polly Gray in hit BBC One show Peaky Blinders, died from cancer aged 52 last April.The final series of the show, which follows a crime gang in post-war Birmingham, launches on Sunday.Co-host of The One Show Alex Jones said that reviews have called it a “heartbreaking tribute” to McCrory. Continue reading Famous faces reflect on working with Peaky Blinders star Helen McCrory
Categories Peaky Blinders Print Media Tributes

The Women of Peaky Blinders

“In Birmingham, the women rule the roost.”

By BBC.co.uk | February 22, 2022

Arthur Shelby (Paul Anderson) and Ada Shelby (Sophie Rundle) are pictured at a kitchen table. She kneels in front of him looking concerned. He wears a large red coat, similar to that of Father Christmas.
Arthur Shelby (Paul Anderson) and Ada Shelby (Sophie Rundle)

When Steven Knight came to populate the world of Peaky Blinders he didn’t have to invent strong, female characters.

“Having come from a working-class background, and in Birmingham, the women run the show. It was never a question of saying, ‘I’m going to deliberately put some strong women in it…’ It was more like, ‘just look out the window,’ you know, ‘look at what really is happening.’”

During the First World War, he points out, when the men were away, “women did everything.” And so when the men came back – the jumping off point for Peaky Blinders – that wasn’t going to just stop.

“The idea that you’d have this environment where the women were completely subservient?” Knight says. “Nonsense. No, it wasn’t like that. And it isn’t like that. So it’s just a question of reflecting reality.”

Continue reading The Women of Peaky Blinders

Categories Peaky Blinders Print Media Tributes

Peaky Blinders’ Natasha O’Keeffe speaks of ‘spiritual’ connection with late Helen McCrory

Natasha O’Keeffe opens up on how she “talked to” the late Helen McCrory on-set of the new BBC series, after she passed away

By Jessica Williams | express.co.uk | February 22, 2022

The untimely death of British actress Helen McCrory, left the nation shocked, after she lost her battle with cancer last April at the age of just 52. Fans, her loved ones and the cast of Peaky Blinders are all still grieving the terrible loss, with Natasha O’Keeffe revealing she sometimes found herself talking to her on-set of the latest series.

Helen, who played Aunt Polly in the hit BBC drama, won’t appear in the new season but creator Steven Knight, reassured fans they’ll see a tribute to the late actress.

Continue reading Peaky Blinders’ Natasha O’Keeffe speaks of ‘spiritual’ connection with late Helen McCrory

Categories Peaky Blinders Print Media Tributes

Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight on Helen McCrory Tribute

Knight: “I think we’ve done it right”

By Abby Robinson | Radio Times | February 22, 2022

Peaky-Blinders-Helen-McCrory

Peaky Blinders season 6 is fast approaching, with the final TV chapter (there’s a movie in the works) arriving on Sunday 27th February on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK.

But while Cillian Murphy will be back as Tommy Shelby alongside a number of other fan favourites and some new faces, this will be the first chapter without Polly Gray following the death of Helen McCrory back in April 2021.

When news of McCrory’s death was announced by her husband Damian Lewis, there was an outpouring of grief from those in the industry who had worked alongside her and the millions of people who enjoyed her vast and varied career.

Continue reading Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight on Helen McCrory Tribute