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.
Phillip, 59, replied: “Helen McCrory was just the most adorable person, just such a lovely, lovely lady, she helped your brother Finn [who plays Peaky Blinders' Michael Gray] didn’t she?”
At the mention of Helen, who passed away from breast cancer in April 2021, looked emotional as he explained that Helen really took his sibling under her wing as he played her on-screen son on the show.
He said: “My brother Finn, his first role was on Peaky Blinders, and Helen played his mother and she just offered so much support on and off camera.”
Joe then became choked up as he described Helen as a “rare gem” and a very “special” person who the cast miss sorely, as he also took the opportunity to describe her contagious humour.
He said: “She was just… I mean, you don’t really realise until you leave the show how much of a rare gem someone like Helen was.”
“She was just one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. She disarmed everybody with her humour and yeah, we lost a special one.”
Helen starred as the matriarch of the Shelby family, Aunt Polly, until her death. In the debut episode of series six, there was a touching tribute to the late actress and her character.
Fans were in tears as a carriage with a portrait of Helen’s character was set alight in a three minute silence to remember both the actress and her character who died offscreen.
The moving episode ended with a message: “Dedicated to Helen McCrory OBE. Polly Gray.”
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Fans rushed to Twitter to talk about the “perfect” tribute to the legendary actress and how it had moved them.
One wrote: “Beautiful tribute to Helen McCrory on Peaky Blinders. That wasn’t story that was saying goodbye to someone for real, I did cry, yes I did.”
A second said: “Watching last nights #PeakyBlinders & so emotional & respectful the way they handled the passing of Helen McCrory. I’m sure real tears would be been shed during the Aunt Polly funeral scenes..”
A third added: “Beautifully done that tribute to Helen tipped me over the edge. Crying like a baby here."
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