Who has cancer in Peaky Blinders?

The show paid tribute to Helen McCrory, who died in 2021.

Warning: This post contains spoilers from the final season of Peaky Blinders.

In April of 2021, the Peaky Blindersfamily lost a major member of its family when star Helen McCrory died from cancer. More than a year later, the series' sixth and final season hit Netflix, with many fans wondering what would happen with McCrory's character, beloved Shelby matriarch Polly Gray. For years, Polly has helped Thomas (Cillian Murphy) maneuver his way out of dangerous situations, advising him on everything from gypsy curses to everyday life. But without McCrory, the show acted swiftly in deciding Polly's fate.

In the opening of Peaky Blinders' sixth season, it's revealed that Polly has been killed by the very same people who ruined Tommy's assassination plan against Oswald Mosley (Sam Claflin) in the season 5 finale. Within the premiere episode's first five minutes, Tommy gets a phone call from Laura McKee (Charlene McKenna) informing him that it was the Irish Republican Army that ruined his plans and killed two of his people — Barney Thompson (Cosmo Jarvis) and Aberama Gold (Aidan Gillen). And yet, in the scene there are three bodies being delivered to Tommy's house as part of a "truce."

Peaky Blinders

Helen McCrory on 'Peaky Blinders'

| Credit: Ben Blackall© Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd. 2019

"We've made some changes to the structure of your organization," Laura tells Tommy. "Ever since you began to build your empire, you've had a crutch to lean on. Last night we kicked away that crutch."

As Tommy leans down to remove the sheet from the third body, the camera stays on his face as he begins to sob. The show then cuts to Polly's gypsy funeral, where Michael (Finn Cole) says goodbye to his mother and promises to get revenge on Tommy for the role he played in her death.

While the show wasted no time in revealing Polly's fate, she continues to be seen and heard throughout the season thanks to old footage. And with Michael's determination to kill Tommy taking center stage, she's mentioned often.

The series also dedicated its first episode "To the memory of Helen McCrory."

Peaky Blinders season 6 is on Netflix now.

Related content:

  • Peaky Blinders stars share what it was like to film the final season
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  • The explosive rise of Peaky Blinders: Inside the breakthrough show's final season plan

Peaky Blinders

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  • TV Show
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  • 6
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  • Crime
  • Drama
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The 52-year-old actress who played Polly Gray in the hit BBC show died in April 2021 after a secret battle with breast cancer

Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy has opened up about the show without his late co-star Helen McCrory.

The 52-year-old actress who played Polly Gray in the hit BBC show died in April 2021 after a secret diagnosis of breast cancer.

Helen kept her diagnosis private, with the news of her illness only coming to light when her husband Damian Lewis announced her death on Twitter.

Speaking to Esquire UK, Cillian said she was the beating heart of the show.

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"We were just reeling throughout the whole thing. She was a dear, dear pal and she was the beating heart of that show, so it felt very strange being on set without her.”

Filming for the show was put on hold in March 2020 due to Covid-19, meaning McCrory’s character was originally part of the sixth season, but she was written out following her death.

"The difficult thing to comprehend is that, if it wasn’t for Covid, there would be a whole other version of this show with Helen in it,” Murphy explained.

Helen McCrory starred as Shelby family matriarch Polly Gray in Peaky Blinders (Jacob King/PA)

"But she was so private and so f**king brave and courageous. She was inspirational. People throw that word around, but she genuinely was,” he said.

"Her values, the way she dealt with her kids and Damian. She cares about everybody. She’s really funny and really cool, and she had this real warmth. She really cared.”

"It’s just… I still can’t believe she’s not here. It doesn’t make sense. I’ve never lost anyone like that – who was young and a friend. It was very confusing.

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"But she was magnificent. She was an absolutely magnificent person."

Murphy starred alongside McCrory, who played his aunt, in the show since 2013.

The sixth and final season of the show, set in 1920s England, is set to air later this year.

Helen McCrory was also known for her role of Narcissa Malfoy in three Harry Potter films, Cherie Blair in The Queen and The Special Relationship, and Clair Dowar in the James Bond film Skyfall.

What cancer did Polly from Peaky Blinders have?

Helen McCrory, who played Shelby family matriarch Aunt Polly across five series of Peaky Blinders, passed away in April 2021. At the time of her death, McCrory had been suffering from breast cancer for some months, and as a result had not been able to take part in filming for the final series of Peaky Blinders.

How did Polly from Peaky Blinders died in real life?

Helen McCrory, who played Polly Gray, sadly died of cancer in April 2021. Her absence from the show meant that a decision had to be taken on exactly how best to continue without her on set.

Did Helen McCrory have cancer in season 4 of Peaky Blinders?

Warning: This post contains spoilers from the final season of Peaky Blinders. In April of 2021, the Peaky Blinders family lost a major member of its family when star Helen McCrory died from cancer.

Which actor has died in Peaky Blinders?

The Peaky Blinders Cast and Crew Share Their Memories of Helen McCrory. The actress, who played Polly on the show, passed away last year at the age of 52.