In Memoriam: Helen McCrory’s Fearless Generosity

With the release of Peaky Blinders’ sixth and final season, fans swarmed the series with overwhelming praise and adulation for its decade-long run. But amidst the premiere events and myriad interviews, one shining star’s absence marred what otherwise should have been a joyful celebration.

Helen McCrory’s Polly Gray has long been a series favorite, garnering a fanbase as large as protagonist Thomas Shelby’s (her nephew). She often emerged from the family’s bickering as the voice of reason and Tommy’s primary confidant.

On April 16, 2021, the great English actress passed away from a months-long battle with breast cancer. Her tragically unexpected loss was palpable to both colleagues and fans. And more important than any creative challenge, her loss devastated her loved ones.

But according to showrunner Steven Knight, it also left Peaky Blinders with “a situation.” What were they to do with Polly Gray?

In the end, the writers decided to honor McCrory by allowing the Shelby family their grief. The sixth season opens with the news of Polly’s murder by the I.R.A. A funeral ensues, featuring a portrait of Polly and devastation on all attendees’ faces–including Tommy and Polly’s son Michael.

But her death does not equal exclusion from the final season. Indeed, her presence—characterized by flashbacks and old dialogue—looms throughout.

“We wanted to pay tribute to the character and hopefully the actor at the same time, so we wanted that to be part of the show,” says Knight in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. And while the first episode is dedicated “in memory of Helen McCrory OBE,” Knight believes the entire season is in her name.

“I think Helen would’ve wanted us to continue with the influence of Polly,” he says. “She is still a very strong influence on Tommy, and therefore the whole thing.”

Like her character, Helen maintains a heavy influence on the world even after her passing. Outside of Peaky Blinders, the actor was a prominent figure both on stage and in film. Her multi-decade career spanned roles like Lady Macbeth and Harry Potter’s Narcissa Malfoy. She appeared in Martin Scorsese’s Hugo(2011), the James Bond film Skyfall(2012), and television series Penny Dreadful. The last of which earned her a much-deserved Critics Choice Television Awards nomination.

Even beyond her inspiring career on stage and screen, the London-born actress dedicated herself to charity work. During the pandemic, Helen and her husband Damian Lewis launched FeedNHS, a project that provides meals to NHS workers on the frontline. Their campaign raised over one million pounds, all while Helen battled an illness hidden beneath unwavering strength.

Following McCrory’s death, Lewis wrote a touching tribute in The Sunday Times, in which he describes his late wife as “an even more brilliant person than she was an actress.”

Damian Lewis & Helen McCrory at the White House

With her dedication to various charities and reputation for kindness and generosity, his words reflect McCrory’s innately giving spirit. The late actress was as fierce as she was compassionate, maintaining a benevolent heart even in her final moments.

And indeed, her loss created a void both in the entertainment industry and the lives of friends and family. In January of this year, Lewis attended an event called A Poet for Every Day of the Year, held at the Lyttelton Theatre in McCrory’s name.

During the occasion, he told a story of the phrase “steal my thunder” and its origin, which is credited to 18th century English poet John Dennis.

“One person whose thunder absolutely would not be stolen was Helen McCrory,” Lewis told the crowd in his first stage appearance since his wife’s passing. “You could try, but it wouldn’t work.”

In addition to Lewis, the event’s audience boasted various actors who loved and respected McCrory. Simon Russell Beale, Helena Bonham Carter, Fay Ripley, Danny Sapani, and Lesley Sharp were all reportedly present. And as their attendance shows, McCrory was an inspiration to many.

Immediately following her death, husband Lewis wrote, “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.”

His statement reflects the sentiment of all who knew her, either personally or from afar. Helen McCrory was a source of brilliance, a beacon of strength and generosity amidst the tragedy of her death, and she is greatly missed.