Category: Peaky Blinders

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Peaky Blinders’ Cillian Murphy Explains How Helen McCrory’s Death Will Impact Season 6

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“We couldn’t quite fathom it all as we were making it.”

by Dan Seddon | Digital Spy | January 20, 2022

Helen McCrory and Cillian Murphy attend the Premiere of BBC Two’s drama “Peaky Blinders” episode one, series three at BFI Southbank on May 3, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight managed to keep the late great Helen McCrory “very present” in the upcoming sixth and final season.

The Polly Gray performer tragically died last April following her battle with cancer, but according to Tommy Shelby star Cillian Murphy, she would’ve reprised her role if it hadn’t been for pandemic-related complications.

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Peaky Blinders Creator: Continuing without Helen McCrory was a challenge

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               Steven Knight reflects on the death of the “incredible actor”

Naomi Clark | PA Entertainment | January 17, 2022

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight said continuing the story after the death of actress Helen McCrory was a “challenge” – but believes she would have wanted them to keep going with the crime drama.

McCrory, who played Shelby family matriarch Polly Gray in the hit BBC One show, died from cancer aged 52 last April.

Knight reflected on the show’s future following the death of the “incredible actor”, as well as his upcoming projects – including the upcoming stage adaptation, Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby.

He told the PA news agency: “It was a terrible, tragic loss that happened while we were shooting.

“And the loss of such an incredible human being is the main thing. The loss of such an incredible actor is awful.

“She was right at the heart (of the series). There are three central characters – she was one of them.

“And it’s a challenge, and was a challenge, to keep going with the story without her. But we knew that she would have wanted that to continue. So that’s what we did.”

The actress, the wife of Homeland star Damian Lewis, had starred in every series of the show since it began in 2013.

 

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Peaky Blinders Creator Steven Knight Talks About Helen McCrory on BBC Breakfast

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“We hope the series itself will be a testament to Helen”

BBC Breakfast | January 18, 2022

 

Categories Peaky Blinders Tributes

The Observer’s Obituaries of 2021: Helen McCrory Remembered by Cillian Murphy

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Cillian Remembers Helen: “She was too young. You can’t help but think of all the amazing roles she would have had”

Cillian Murphy | December 12, 2021 | The Observer

17 August 1968 – 16 April 2021

The actor on his Peaky Blinders co-star, a supremely talented and compassionate performer whose grace and dignity never deserted her.

I first met Helen in the late 90s, when I attended an audition for a play at the Donmar Warehouse in London – I think Colin Farrell got the role. For some reason, she was there. I was just starting out, really nervous, and I think she picked up on that. We went outside at one point to smoke a rollie and she was really kind and supportive. I mentioned it to her when we started doing Peaky Blinders and she actually remembered it.

Helen had this genuine compassion. It was part of her DNA. She wasn’t an actor who turned up, did the gig and went home. All the way through Peaky Blinders, she would chat to members of the crew as well as the actors. She knew everyone’s name. It’s a huge collaboration making a series like that and it’s easy to think it’s only about the actors, but she was always very aware of the collective aspect of what we do. At the wrap for series two, she actually got up and performed a poem to us all. It was about how special the show was and how great the crew were. It was humorous, but really considerate. She had obviously put a lot of thought into it. It was pure Helen.

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New Peaky Blinders Book Makes a Tribute to Helen McCrory

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Helen McCrory Remembered as Polly Gray

by Helenistic | October 14, 2021 | helen-mccrory.com

Peaky Blinders official Twitter account has recently shared the cover of the new The Peaky Blinders Compendium: The Official A-Z Guide to the World of Peaky Blinders. 

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