Helen McCrory

Actress, Mum and Philanthropist
Categories Peaky Blinders Print Media Tributes

Peaky Blinders fans in tears as Aunt Polly ‘returns’ to warn Tommy Shelby

The Voice of Polly Gray Heard on Peaky Blinders

By Jamie Roberts | The Mirror | March 7, 2022

Peaky Blinders fans were shocked when they heard the voice of Polly Gray in episode two of the hit BBC drama on Sunday.

The emotional scene came as Tommy, played by Cillian Murphy, arrived home from the US and viewers heard the voice of Helen McCrory, who passed away last year.

The line was one which Polly had said prior to her death and her words of prophecy haunted Tommy.

She is heard saying: “There will be a war in this family, and one of you will die.”

Fans were quick to take to Twitter to share their thoughts on the scene, with several simply sharing a crying face emoji.

One user wrote: “Polly’s voice and Tommy having a seizure in the first ten minutes…”

Another said: “There is a big gaping hole where Polly should be.”

Categories Damian Lewis Events Personal and Family Life Poetry Readings Tributes Video

A Poet for Every Day of the Year Video at the National Theatre

Poetry Event Dedicated to Helen McCrory

by National Theatre | YouTube | March 3, 2022

Join us to journey through a calendar year in poetry, read by actors on stage at the National Theatre. Allie Esiri and Damian Lewis were joined by friends including Simon Russell Beale, Fay Ripley, Danny Sapani and Lesley Sharp. Chris Riddell live drew the evening. A Poet for Every Day of the Year is dedicated to Helen McCrory, who took part in some of these poetry evenings in previous years.

Signed copies of A Poet for Every Day of the Year are available from the National Theatre Bookshop here. Every purchase supports the work of the National Theatre: https://shop.nationaltheatre.org.uk/p…

This event was performed on the Lyttelton stage, National Theatre, London on Tuesday 25 January 2022.

Continue reading A Poet for Every Day of the Year Video at the National Theatre

Categories Peaky Blinders Print Media Tributes

Peaky Blinders stars pay tribute to Helen McCrory as season 6 launches

The Peaky Stars talk about the legacy Helen McCrory leaves behind

By Tilly Pearce and Laurence Mozafari | Digital Spy | February 27, 2022

Peaky Blinders return for season six is tinged with a sadness beyond the Shelbys’ world following the death of leading actress Helen McCrory.

Matriarch Polly Gray was a fearless and no-nonsense voice of reason amid the criminal underworld, commanding respect and adoration from all who knew her.

The same could easily be said for actress Helen, whose work within Peaky Blinders, the Harry Potter franchiseQuiz and His Dark Materials was just part of the legacy she leaves behind in British drama and theatre.

News of her death in April 2021 from cancer left a sad note for all of her fans, co-workers and loved ones. Going into Peaky Blinders’ final season, her absence will be felt more than most.

Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy, Harry Kirton, who plays Finn Shelby in the series, commemorated her life and influence on the series.

Continue reading Peaky Blinders stars pay tribute to Helen McCrory as season 6 launches

Categories Peaky Blinders Print Media Reviews

Helen McCrory’s absence leaves a chasm as Peaky Blinders draws to a close

McCrory will be missed terribly. So will Peaky Blinders.

By Ed Cumming | Independent | February 27, 2022

It’s the end of one of the most distinctive, inventive and entertaining series in recent British history

After a decade, 30 episodes, countless grisly beatings and murders, some exact accents and some dodgy ones, endless Nick Cave, plenty of snazzy tailoring and some of the most severe haircuts on TV, the sixth and final series of Peaky Blinders (BBC One) is upon us. Creator Steven Knight has plans for a film, but as far as the small-screen is concerned, this is the finale. It’s the end of one the most distinctive, inventive and entertaining dramas in recent British history, as you may have gleaned from the blanket trailers over the past few months. The entrenched BBC can’t be expected to soft-pedal a rare thing: an international hit that enjoys genuinely popular appeal as well as critical acclaim.

Continue reading Helen McCrory’s absence leaves a chasm as Peaky Blinders draws to a close