Actress Helen McCrory sadly died in 2021
Last updated 2 hours ago
Fans of Peaky Blinders rejoiced last week as the popular series returned to our screens with series six, featuring the likes of Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy and Anya Taylor-Jo and Stephen Graham.
Whilst the first episode brought joy with its return, episode two, which aired on Sunday 6th March, left viewers feeling very emotional due to the ‘return’ of Aunt Polly, who was played by the late Helen McCrory.
Helen was due to appear in the sixth series, but after filming was postponed and the series was put back due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the actress sadly passed away at the age of just 52 in April 2021, before filming was complete.
After dedicating episode one to the legendary actress last week, Helen’s voice featured in episode two as her character Aunt Polly said: “There will be a war in this family, and one of you will die”, a line previously said in earlier series.
After hearing her voice, viewers of the hit BBC show took to Twitter to express their emotions, with many admitting they’d shed a tear at the scene.
One wrote: ‘Another epic episode of @ThePeakyBlinder loving the links and constant involvement of Aunt Polly the great #HelenMcCrory is certainly missed. I do miss hearing red right hand at the start though!’
Another wrote: ‘There is a big gaping hole where Polly should be’, with a third writing: Gosh. I miss Polly. RIP Helen McCrory.’
Meanwhile, following Helen’s tragic passing last year, Peaky Blinders bosses dedicated last week’s episode to the late actress, addressing her absence by writing her character’s death into the storyline.
At the end of the action-packed opener, as the sounds of birds played in the background, the words ‘Dedicated to the memory of Helen McCrory OBE ‘Polly Gray’ appeared on screen.
Rebecca Foster, who painted a portrait of Helen which was shown in the episode, said: “It was such an honour and huge responsibility to paint this portrait of Helen McCrory for this evening’s episode of Peaky Blinders. I hope I did her justice.”
Lead actor Cillian Murphy has previously opened up about his former co-star, revealing the actress would have been able to reprise the role of Polly if it hadn’t been for COVID-19 complications.
Speaking to Empire, he said: “What I always feel sad about is that we were about to shoot and then the pandemic happened and we had to stop.
“If we had shot then, Helen would’ve been in the show, and that makes me feel sad.”
He added: “It’s a huge loss; it’s hard to comprehend it. Because she was the matriarch of the whole thing. As the character, but just also as her personality. But she’s still present in series 6.
“Steve has managed to keep her very, very present, which I think is a brilliant tribute to Steve and also to Helen. But we couldn’t quite fathom it all as we were making it, you know?”
Check out all of the Peaky Blinders filming locations below:
The Black Country Living Museum
The Black Country museum is home to many of the filming locations for Peaky Blinders, and if you take a trip around the museum for a day you’ll be sure to recognise some past scenes of the show.
Pictured here is Uncle Charlie’s dockyard, home to many dodgy dealings between the Shelby brothers as well as allowing safe passage for who or whatever they need to get out of the Midlands. Read up on the museum here.
Powis Street, Liverpool
Much of the filming for Peaky Blinders is done in and around Liverpool, and different companies host many tours in the city so that fans of the show can see where the magic happens. This particular street is used for the Shelby families homes in the first season, named Watery Lane on the show.
Formby Beach, Liverpool
Many heartbroken viewers will spot that Formby Beach in Liverpool was the spot where Alfie Solomons (played by Tom Hardy) admitted his betrayal to Tommy, and basically forced Tommy into shooting him dead after confessing that he had cancer. It was very emotional.
Port Sunlight, Wirral
Port Sunlight is a model village in the Wirral, Merseyside. Although the village and the homes within it were originally built for workers at the Lever Brothers Factory, it’s now a tourist attraction. Eagle-eyed Peaky fans will recognise the timbered housing as Aunt Polly’s home, which is ‘in’ Sutton Coldfield in the show.
Arley Hall, Cheshire
Once Tommy became as ‘legit’ as he could in season three, he and Grace moved themselves into an incredible country house. Sadly, Grace was shot dead at a party they hosted there, but Tommy continued to live there with their son Charlie as well as their staff.
Arley Hall is situated in Northwich, Cheshire, and is often used as a wedding venue. Other shows to be filmed there include Coronation Street, Antiques Roadshow and Cold Feet.
General Manager Steve Hamilton said, “It’s been incredible to see the effort and attention to detail that goes into a production such as Peaky Blinders. There was a real buzz around Arley during the filming and it was great to work with the BBC on such a popular and critically acclaimed drama. The great thing now is that people will be able to visit us this summer and walk in the rooms where these amazing stars have filmed their scenes.”
Manchester Town Hall
The town hall in Manchester was apparently used as a building front in a scene in one of the first two seasons where Sam Neill’s character, Major Campbell, visits Winston Churchill, but Peaky Blinders’ Production Designer Grant Montgomery told i News that “the interiors were done in another location.” So cryptic!
Victoria Baths, Manchester
The Victoria Baths in Manchester were used for scenes in season two. After Polly’s son Michael returned, having been raised in the countryside by adoptive parents, the Shelby brothers took him along to a horse fair where Tommy bought a filly and also met May Carleton. Of course, in true Peaky style, the day ends in a fight, but the filming for the fair took place at the baths.
Montgomery told i, “I remember thinking Victoria Baths could give it a really good look. One of the baths had timber over it, so we put sawdust down on top.”
Bolton
The centre of Bolton was used for various scenes in the show, but Le Mans crescent in Bolton was used for shots to capture the Shelby brothers’ trip to London, and specifically the exterior of the Eden Club – the jazz den owned by Sabini, who becomes a nemesis to the family.
Montgomery told i, “We were thinking how to do London in the 1920s, and Bolton has that wonderful crescent. So I said, ‘Well, this is our London.’ And the exterior to the Eden Club was all done in Bolton.”
Brooke’s Mill, Huddersfield
Producers used Brooke’s Mill in Huddersfield as the location for the gypsy campsite, using traditional caravans and carts, as well as horses.
Leeds Town Hall
Many fans of the show were convinced that the scenes in which Campbell and Grace share information about the Shelby family in the art gallery were filmed at the Town Hall in Birmingham. However, the front was actually shot at the Town Hall in Leeds.
Newby Hall & Gardens, Ripon
However, the scenes on the inside of the art gallery where Campbell and Grace surreptitiously pass notes to each other were filmed at the Newby Hall & Gardens in Ripon, North Yorkshire.
Keighley and Worth Valley Steam Railway
Most of the Peaky moments that take place on a train or at a station happen on the Keighley and Worth Valley railway line. It’s a 5-mile long rail line that runs through a small part of West Yorkshire, and many will recognise Keighley as the station where Grace shot Major Campbell in season one.
Undercliffe Cemetery, Bradford
The shots in season one where Polly pays her respects at the cemetery and meets Freddie Thorne laying flowers for his mum is thought to have been shot in Bradford at the Undercliffe Cemetery.
Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, Yorkshire
If it’s a scene involving a train station, this historic Yorkshire station is likely to be the filming location, boasting gorgeous old platforms and carriages, picturesque walking paths and eye-catching backdrops.
Chatsworth House, Derbyshire
If you’re looking for May Carleton’s mansion, featured in season two of Peaky Blinders, then Chatsworth House, in Bakewell, Derbyshire, is the place! The stunning historic building is perfect for aristocratic horse-trainer May Carleton.
Episodes shot at Chatsworth include huge stars of the show, including Cillian Murphy (as Thomas Shelby), Charlotte Riley (as May Carleton) and Annabelle Wallis (as Grace Burgess).
The news of Helen’s sad passing was confirmed by her husband Damian Lewis in April 2021.
Revealing she’s lost her battle with breast cancer, Homeland actor Damien said on Twitter: ‘I’m heartbroken to announce that after an heroic battle with cancer, the beautiful and mighty woman that is Helen McCrory has died peacefully at home, surrounded by a wave of love from friends and family.
‘She died as she lived. Fearlessly. God we love her and know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives. She blazed so brightly. Go now, Little One, into the air, and thank you.’
The sixth and final series of Peaky Blinders airs every Sunday night on BBC One.
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