"Very very good buddies": When Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy revealed the late Helen McCrory as the co-star who made him laugh on set

Peaky Blinders! The series, with its restraint, silence, and emotional weight, hardly ever features humor as a topic of discussion. Still, just beneath the actors’ controlled performances and the narrative’s bleakness, the warmth of the cast members’ personal relationships shone through at times.

One particular situation arose when Cillian Murphy was quizzed about laughter on the set, and his reply was remarkably insightful. In an interview with BBC Radio 1, 3 years ago, when he was asked who would be the one to make him laugh on set, Cillian answered,

"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"

Through his statement, the audience not only learned the truth about the association between the two actors but also about the show's serious nature.

Here's the interview for your reference:

Cillian Murphy’s comment in context

Cillian Murphy, cast as Tommy Shelby, made the series his own with a performance marked by control and a certain degree of emotional detachment.

His reference to McCrory came up quite effortlessly during the interview segment dealing with cast friendships.

The remark was not made in the context of a tribute or as part of a promotional campaign. Rather, it was an immediate reply that mirrored his experience of working with McCrory over the years on Peaky Blinders.

Helen McCrory’s role in Peaky Blinders

One of the most important characters in Peaky Blinders was Helen McCrory as Polly Gray. Being the matriarch and financial strategist of the Shelby family, Polly was at the heart of the show’s most significant plots. Her character was characterized by power, emotional sensitivity, and ambiguity.

Polly Gray was rarely depicted as a comical character during her performance. Her scenes were mostly serious and full of emotion, which is why Murphy's off-screen observation is particularly important when the distinction between the role and reality is taken into account.

Laughter behind a serious production

The dark storyline and heavy themes are among the main reasons why Peaky Blinders is a much-loved series. Shooting such difficult topics over long periods might take a real toll on the performers and the crew, both emotionally and physically.

Murphy's statement suggested that McCrory was the one who created the pleasant atmosphere on the set, so everyone could play along with the seriousness of the work.

Nevertheless, it does not imply that there was always humor around during the production. Quite the opposite, it indicates that even in an artistic process as tightly controlled as Peaky Blinders, the atmosphere must be kept light at times.

A professional bond built over time

Murphy and McCrory were in close collaboration during a good part of Peaky Blinders, especially in moments when subtle emotions had to be exchanged between Tommy Shelby and Polly Gray. The relationship of their characters was built on trust, conflict, and a common past.

By describing them as "very very good buddies," Murphy indicates a professional relationship that was formed naturally through their frequent working together. Having such a high degree of closeness is typical in series that run for a long time, and it plays a part in the uniformity of the performances.

The impact on the audience of Peaky Blinders

The audience of the series Peaky Blinders considered the show as one characterized by stoicism and emotional restraint.

The remark by the Oppenheimer actor was noticed because behind-the-scenes elements were rarely publicized by the makers in the past.

The timing of Murphy’s remarks

Helen McCrory died in 2021. Murphy's interview comments followed later and naturally added more weight to her remembrance. However, he did not place his answer in the context of loss or memory, but simply answered the question put to him.

Cillian Murphy's declaration that Helen McCrory was the Peaky Blinders co-star who cracked him up gives us a close-up look at life behind the camera.

It is a reminder that Peaky Blinders was not merely the result of acting and writing but of human connection, soft-spoken, unobtrusive, and genuine.

Also read: Tommy is out for revenge in the first trailer for the Peaky Blinders film

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Edited by Yesha Srivastava