As the infamous gang Peaky Blinders is returning with the upcoming film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, the memories of one of its most powerful characters remain close to the cast and fans alike. The heart and backbone of the series, who guided Tommy Shelby during his troubles and darkest turns, was Aunt Polly, played by the late Helen McCrory. She was crucial throughout the first five seasons of the show until the actor’s tragic passing, followed by the character’s death in the Season 6 premiere. 

As Cillian Murphy and the world of Peaky Blinders move toward their next chapter, the actor took a moment to look back at McCrory’s iconic character and her impact.

The Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Podcast on Netflix has become a space where the cast and crew look back at the series, the gang, and reflect on its cultural impact. During the conversation, Cillian Murphy revisited the many layers of Tommy Shelby, exploring the relationships that shaped the character throughout the story. Among those memories, he named Helen McCrory’s character, Aunt Polly, as the most important.

“The most important character was Polly Gray, his aunt, because he didn't have a mother and didn't have a father.”

 “This is kind of odd relationship that's almost sometimes like a marriage, but it's not, and it's almost something like a sister, but it's not. It's almost something like a mom, but it's not, so it's brilliantly complex," he further added.

While visibly emotional, remembering the late actress behind Aunt Polly, Cillian Murphy spoke warmly about how crucial the character was to the story. Although the character is not part of the upcoming film, which is set for release on March 20, as McCrory unfortunately passed away ahead of Season 6, which also brought a heartbreaking end to her character’s journey in the series. 

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While Cillian Murphy remembered Helen McCrory ahead of the big release, this was not the only time that Peaky Blinders paid tribute to the actress. 

In Peaky Blinders Season 6, the show gave a heartbreaking but respectful ending to Polly Gray after the death of Helen McCrory. The premiere episode revealed that Polly was killed by the IRA, the same group that sabotaged Tommy Shelby’s assassination plan against Oswald Mosley. Tommy Shelby discovered the same, when three bodies were delivered to his home. 

The scene was deeply emotional as Tommy broke down in grief as he removed the cover from the third body before the story moved to Polly’s Gypsy funeral. However, throughout the episode, fans see flashback scenes of McCrory’s Aunt Polly from the previous seasons, with the first episode dedicated “To the memory of Helen McCrory." While her character will not be in the film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, Aunt Polly will be remembered through the rest of the characters. 

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Do you believe in the impact of Helen McCrory’s Aunt Polly in Peaky Blinders, as Cillian Murphy explained? Let us know in the comments.