The Peaky Blinders cast have recently wrapped up filming for their sixth and final season, and star Cillian Murphy has shared that filming without Helen McCrory was ‘desperately sad’. Helen sadly passed away in April of this year, aged just 52 after a battle with cancer.
Speaking to Dermot and Dave on Today FM, Cillian shared: “It’s been desperately sad, sad for all of us and everyone that knew her and was close to her and all her fans.
“She was like the matriarch of Peaky Blinders and, I think, my closest colleague on the show.”
He continued, “The Polly/Tommy scenes and storylines were always my favourite and she was, without doubt, one of the best actors I have ever had the pleasure of working with.
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“But on top of that, just an extraordinary human being, so it’s really, really sad, we’re all still dealing with it like everybody else and we really miss her.”
Helen sadly passed away in April of this year, the news was shared at the time by her husband, Damian Lewis in an emotional statement posted to Twitter, that she had died at home after a private battle with cancer.
He said; “I’m heartbroken to announce that after a heroic battle with cancer, the beautiful and mighty woman that is Helen McCrory has died peacefully at home, surrounded by a wave of love from friends and family.”
“She died as she lived. Fearlessly. God we loved 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.”
At the time, Cillian paid tribute to Helen, sharing “I am broken-hearted to lose such a dear friend.”
He continued, “Helen was a beautiful, caring, funny, compassionate human being. She was also a gifted actor – fearless and magnificent. She elevated and made humane every scene, every character she played.
“It was a privilege to have worked with this brilliant woman, to have shared so many laughs over the years. I will dearly miss my pal. My love and thoughts are with Damian and her family.”