Peaky Blinders viewers praise BBC's touching tribute to the late Helen McCrory

Express.co.uk, Peaky Blinders actress Natasha O’Keeffe, 35, revealed some inspiring memories of filming with her late co-star, Helen McCrory, who played the Shelby family matriarch Aunt Polly, in a tribute to her.Natasha, who plays Lizzie Shelby in the hit show, spoke to Express.co.uk at the red carpet premiere of the sixth season of Peaky Blinders in Birmingham.The BBC star plays Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Shelby, the second wife of Tommy Shelby (played by Cillian Murphy).The 35-year-old praised Helen, who died of breast cancer in April last year at the age of 52, for always being “very modest about her abilities” and added that Helen “never realised how much she was giving you.“As a younger actor, on set with her, I was learning so, so much.”Natasha added: “The ‘tea leaves’ scene in season four always comes to mind, because it just felt like these two ladies [who] know each other…“It’s about Lizzie being pregnant with Tommy’s child, so I think that’s one of the scenes that really spring to mind [between] Lizzie and Polly.”In the scene, Aunt Polly reads Lizzie’s tea leaves to predict her fortune and tells Lizzie she is pregnant.Aunt Polly’s prediction would prove to be true when Lizzie later gives birth to daughter, Ruby Shelby, later in the series.Natasha, who has recently spoken about her spiritual connection with the late Helen McCrory, added that the character of Polly Gray was a “wise woman”.In an interview with Radio Times, she explained: “Sometimes I would find myself talking to her.”“It wasn’t a conscious decision, more like an instinct.“I felt the need to connect with her in some way and so I’d ask for strength or encouragement between takes.”She added: “I also listened to Nina Simone in my trailer because I know Helen

Forget all the drama with the Shelby family down the back streets of Birmingham in BBC One’s Peaky Blinders – this Sunday it’s all about family fights in real-life. Acting brothers Joe Cole and Finn will be competing in a TV ratings war as their mega dramas, Peaky Blinders and new ITV spy thriller Ipcress File go head-to-head. We can only imagine the two of them sitting down in front of the box and fighting over the remote control.

Peaky Blinders star Joe Cole has opened up about leaving the hit BBC show, which returned to screens last weekend (February 27).The actor played John Shelby in the show, brother of Tommy Shelby played by Cillian Murphy. He held the role for three seasons before leaving in 2017.Speaking to Radio Times about leaving the show, Cole said he had no regrets.“In society we’re told to play by the rules and live your life in a certain way,” he began.

Former Peaky Blinders actor Joe Cole has opened up about his late co-star, Helen McCrory, describing her as a “rare gem.” The 33 year old star, who played John Shelby until series four of the show, appeared on This Morning alongside hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield to discuss his new spy thriller series, The Ipcress File. As he reflected on the impressive cast list for the ITV show, which includes Tom Hollander and Lucy Boynton, he admitted he had always had the pleasure of working with “phenomenal actors and actresses” - especially Cillian Murphy and Helen McCrory on the BBC crime drama, Peaky Blinders.

This Morning to chat about his upcoming show but also shared his thoughts on the late actress Helen McCrory.Joe and Helen both worked on the iconic series of Peaky Blinders together and looking back at his time on the show, he says she was a "rare gem".Harry Potter actress Helen died from cancer, age 52, in April 2021, which left a great hole in the acting community.Joe shared what it has been like working with big stars across his career, from past roles and current, in his new series The Ipcress File during a chat with This Morning hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.He said: "When you're working with great actors they bring something else out of you. It's a real job as you might have preconceptions about how you're going to do a scene, but when you get into a room with heavyweights like Tom Hollander, you're like that anyway but it brings different things out of your performance."He continued: "It happens a lot, up and down, small arts and big parts.

Peaky Blinders star Annabelle Wallis has reportedly split from boyfriend Chris Pine, according to reports.The couple were first linked in 2018, but have reportedly called time on their relationship “months” ago after keeping their relationship largely secret. A source has claimed that the pair "have broken up and haven't been together for a few months,” according to Entertainment Tonight.

Peaky Blinders star Joe Cole felt like he ‘exhausted’ his character on the popular BBC series, which ultimately led to his exit in 2017. The 33-year-old actor played Tommy Shelby’s (Cillian Murphy) younger brother John in the Birmingham-based drama – which focuses on the famous families’ reign following World War I in 1918. Cole had cameos in Holby City, The Bill, and teen comedy Skins before landing the Peaky Blinders gig in 2013, and although he starred in the popular programme for three seasons, he still doesn’t regret walking away from it five years later.

Peaky Blinders viewers were left in floods of tears as the acclaimed BBC One drama paid a touching tribute to the show’s late star Helen McCrory, who played Aunt Polly. In the opening episode of the sixth and final series, which aired on Sunday 27 February, the show tackled Helen’s absence, following her sad passing last April. And it was an emotional watch for fans when the instalment, which was titled Black Day, saw Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) discover the devastating news that his Aunt Polly had been killed.

The highly-anticipated Season 6 premiere of period gangster epic Peaky Blinders was watched by 3.8 million viewers in the UK on Sunday, according to overnight figures. That makes it the biggest launch for the Shelby clan ever, coming in above the Season 5 debut’s 3.7 million overnight average. It also ties the series record previously set by the Season 5 finale in September 2019. The market share was 21.8% on Sunday with a peak of 4.1 million viewers. The episode faced strong competition from the season finale of ITV drama Trigger Point which ended up winning the 9pm slot.

PEAKY Blinders bosses have kept alive Helen McCrory's Aunt Polly character in the sixth series - but were you able to spot the clues? The sixth and final season of the hit BBC series has finally returned, more than two years after that epic cliffhanger aired. But one person whose absence will be felt by viewers this time around, though, is Aunt Polly, the head of the Shelby family in the previous five seasons. Actress Helen McCrory, who played the formidable matriarch in the series, died last year after a private illness with cancer.

PEAKY Blinders fans were in tears as the BBC gangster drama paid tribute to its late star, Helen McCrory. Helen 52, starred as Tommy Shelby’s aunt, Polly Gray, but sadly passed away after a battle with cancer in April 2021.

It is a moment fans have been waiting for - the return of Peaky Blinders.

Peaky Blinders season 6 spoilers follow. Peaky Blinders is back, but there was a massive piece of the Shelby family missing upon its return – the late, great, Helen McCrory, who played matriarch Aunt Polly. Following the star's death from cancer in April 2021, it was known that somehow Aunt Polly would be written out of the story, with a marked commemoration of the legendary actress' death.

Helen McCrory’s untimely passing had a big impact on the direction of “Peaky Blinders”.

SPOILER ALERT: This post contains details about the Season 6 premiere of Peaky Blinders.. After a long wait, Peaky Blinders is back, just having premiered the first episode of the final season on BBC One this evening in the UK, and after the tragic loss of one of the show’s most important players, Helen McCrory (Aunt Polly), who passed away in April last year. Show creator Steven Knight and executive producer Caryn Mandabach sat down with Deadline this weekend to discuss the Season 6 premiere, the impact of losing McCrory on a personal and storyline level, and what’s ahead for the Shelby family (yes, there is a movie being plotted).

CILLIAN Murphy once went full frontal nude in a movie and has insisted he's "completely comfortable" stripping off on camera. The 45-year-old returns tonight as Tommy Shelby in the final season of Peaky Blinders - but his career in front of the camera started long before the hit series debuted in 2013.

SPOILER ALERT: This post contains details about the Season 6 premiere of Peaky Blinders. Surprising as it sounds, it has been 889 days since BBC One aired the Season 5 finale of period gangster saga Peaky Blinders. With anticipation at a fever pitch, the first episode of the sixth and final season debuted tonight local time in the UK, providing a first glimpse of how things may tie up for the Shelby family — and importantly paying tribute to star Helen McCrory who passed away last year following a battle with cancer. The premiere episode is dedicated to her.

Peaky Blinders have spoken to NME about the death of Helen McCrory, and paying tribute to both her and her character Polly Gray.The first episode of the sixth and final season of the Birmingham-based period crime-noir drama premiered tonight (Sunday February 27), marking the first new instalment of the show since McCrory sadly passed away from cancer last year.Speaking to NME, show creator Steven Knight remembered the first time that McCrory appeared before him to take the part of the Shelby family matriarch.“It was the perfect match,” said Knight. “She just absolutely took control – not just of that role, but the family and often the shoot. She was such a strong human being and a great actor that you knew, ‘This is exactly who this should be’.

Peaky Blinders star was remembered by her husband Damian Lewis in a special poetry reading at the National Theatre.Just last month, Damian paid tribute to his beloved wife in a poignant speech.The event, which took place in January, marked the first time Damian spoke publicly about her death.Alongside his family and friends, he took to the stage on January 27 to dedicate a poetry evening to Helen.The event was based around Allie Esiri's book A Poet For Every Day of the Year.Speaking about his late wife, he said: “This evening is dedicated to her and it's perfect, because Helen loved the National Theatre."One person whose thunder would absolutely not be stolen, was Helen McCrory."As well as this, Damian read a verse from Irish poet Derek Mahon's Everything is Going to Be All Right to end the evening.Author Allie also shared some insight into Damian’s words.She told The Times in January: "We dedicated the evening to Helen, and Damian said a few words.“But we just wanted to get on and do the show."It's what she would have told us to do, ‘OK, enough already, get on with the show!’"She loved poetry and I think she would have been pleased to be kind of here with us.

The leading ladies of Peaky Blinders were out in full force on Thursday night as they attended the premiere of the sixth and final season of the hit BBC show in Birmingham.The actresses looked as glamorous as ever as they celebrated the last run of episodes of the period drama — however the mood was also sombre as cast member Helen McCrory was deeply missed.The 52 year old, who appeared in Peaky Blinders as Polly Gray since its debut in 2013, tragically passed away in April last year following a secret battle with breast cancer and did not film any scenes for the latest series. Get exclusive celebrity stories and fabulous photoshoots straight to your inbox with OK!'s daily newsletter.

Peaky Blinders attended the premiere for the show’s sixth and final season on Thursday (February 24) at Cineworld in Birmingham.Sophie Rundle (Ada Shelby), Kate Phillips (Linda Shelby) and Natasha O’Keeffe (Lizzie Stark) were among those at the event, alongside Finn Cole (Michael Gray), Ned Dennehy (Charlie Strong) and Harry Kirton (Finn Shelby).Amber Anderson and Charlene McKenna were also in attendance, along with James Frecheville who is a newcomer for the final season.Cillian Murphy, who plays Tommy Shelby, was unable to make the premiere due to filming commitments on Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film Oppenheimer.The actor will play the lead role of J. Robert Oppenheimer in the biopic, an American physicist whose involvement in the Manhattan Project led him to be dubbed the “father of the atomic bomb”.Speaking about the role recently, Murphy said: “I’m interested in the man and what [inventing the atomic bomb] does to the individual.