Cillian Murphy and Helen McCrory shared a close bond that turned the intense Peaky Blinders set into a place of friendship and laughter.
Behind the gritty drama and tough characters of Peaky Blinders, the actors formed real relationships. Cillian Murphy, who played the stern gang leader Tommy Shelby, recently highlighted who kept the mood light. In a past interview, he pointed to his late co-star Helen McCrory as the person who made him laugh the most on set. Their off-screen friendship provided a necessary balance to the show’s heavy themes.
The story comes from a BBC Radio 1 interview from a few years ago. When asked which co-star was most likely to make him laugh, Murphy’s answer was immediate and heartfelt.
“I’d have to say Helen actually we were very very good buddies on that show and she was a very very popular and you know she would make me laugh a lot I have to say and she would always she would always take the mickey out of herself as well just taking mickey out of me so yeah we had it”
His use of “very very good buddies” underscored a genuine, long-standing friendship that developed over the show’s many seasons. This remark was not part of a prepared tribute but a spontaneous and honest reflection of their working relationship.
On screen, Murphy’s Tommy Shelby and McCrory’s Polly Gray shared one of the series’ most important relationships. Polly was the family matriarch and Shelby’s financial strategist, with a bond that was complex—sometimes like aunt and nephew, other times like a husband-and-wife team or mother and son. Their characters dealt with power, conflict, and deep loyalty.
Murphy has often said McCrory was his “closest colleague” on the show. He admired her ability to bring power and vulnerability to any scene, calling her “one of the finest actors I’ve ever worked opposite”. This professional respect was the foundation for a strong personal friendship.
Peaky Blinders is known for its dark storylines and emotional weight. Shooting such intense material for long periods required moments of relief. Murphy’s comment shows that McCrory, despite playing a serious character, was key to lightening the atmosphere.
He described her as “so funny, very dry and self-deprecating” and noted that with a long-running series, you need a partner on set you can laugh and joke with. Her humor and warmth were essential for the cast and crew.
Murphy and McCrory’s connection started years before Peaky Blinders. They first met in the late 1990s at an audition for a play at London’s Donmar Warehouse. Murphy, just starting his career, was nervous, and McCrory was kind and supportive. They stepped outside to smoke and talked.
Murphy mentioned this first meeting to her when they began working on Peaky Blinders, and she remembered it. This early kindness left a lasting impression and set the tone for their future friendship.
Helen McCrory died in April 2021 after a private battle with cancer. Her death occurred while the sixth and final season of Peaky Blinders was in production. The pandemic had already delayed filming, and McCrory was unable to participate due to her illness.
Murphy and the cast found filming the final season “very strange” and “very unpleasant” without her. He described the cast and crew as “reeling throughout the whole thing” and said her absence was deeply felt, calling her the “beating heart of that show”.
The show’s creator, Steven Knight, chose not to recast the role of Polly Gray. Instead, her character’s absence was written into the story, and she remained a powerful presence. The production also used a special clapperboard with her picture on it during filming as a tribute.
In reflections after her passing, Murphy consistently emphasized McCrory’s character beyond her acting. He was in “awe of how she lived her life”, balancing a stellar career with her family while privately managing her illness.
“She was an absolutely magnificent person… She was inspirational. People throw that word around, but she genuinely was,” Murphy told Esquire.
He recalled her compassion, noting that she knew the names of every crew member and once performed a thoughtful, humorous poem for everyone at a season wrap party. Even near the end of her life, she was “making jokes” and handled her illness with bravery and dignity.
