Helen McCrory's journey from playing a protective mother in 'Harry Potter' to gang matriarch in 'Peaky Blinders' has been phenomenal

The British actress has played a number of unconventional roles -- each getting more ambitious than the previous one.

There are only a few actresses who have been able to portray a mother who commits heinous crimes while maintaining her image as the savior matriarch. Going by this record then, British actress Helen McCrory has time and again excelled in roles that proved a mother is not only committed towards the well-being of her children but can be selfish enough to disregard the affairs of the world solely for the benefit of motherhood. Her characters might not be diverse but the confined roles that she plays have been executed until the last morsel has been squeezed out of those characters. 

At the moment, McCrory is best known for her role as the Shelby matriarch, Polly Grey, a gypsy woman who is able to talk to spirits but at the same time commits a murder in the cleanest possible way. Polly Grey is one of the leading women on BBC One's 'Peaky Blinders' but unlike her fellow characters, Polly holds the upper hand when it comes to the Shelby family business. As the company's treasurer, Polly decides where the money goes and what happens with it, and let's keep in mind this is a woman who lives in the early 1910s, a time when due to World War I men were out in the battlefield and women for the first time were taking control over business. 

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Fresh comments about Taylor Sheridan’s long-discussed ‘1944’ project have reignited speculation about the future of the ‘Yellowstone’ universe.
33 minutes ago
Adam Remsen faces off against Deidre Purcell and Jacob Ross-Ewart on Friday’s episode of ‘Jeopardy!’.
1 hour ago
As ‘Sugar’ returns with a new case and bigger stakes, here's the latest update on whether Apple TV+ plans to bring the sci-fi detective drama back.
1 hour ago
The premiere episode of 'Sugar' Season 2 was titled 'Home Away From Home' and hinted that Sugar might be lonelier than ever.
14 hours ago
The detective drama series premiered its first season in 2024 on Apple TV+, and after a fantastic debut season, it's back with Season 2.
16 hours ago
The much-loved One Chicago shows are set to return on NBC this fall, and the network's latest announcement may help figure out the premiere date
19 hours ago
Adam Remsen returned for his fifth game and faced off against Tyler Stevenson and Nora Inman
22 hours ago
The story follows David, who has spent years behind bars after being convicted of killing his young son, Matthew Burroughs
23 hours ago
Adapted from the popular video game franchise, the series is set in a future shaped by nuclear devastation
1 day ago
Season 5 of 'Outer Banks' will focus on the Pogues dealing with the aftermath of JJ's murder by his father Chandler Groff.
1 day ago