Though no one will ever replace Polly Gray, Rebecca Ferguson’s character, Kaulo, in the new Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, shares a similar enigmatic and powerful presence.
As a longtime viewer of Peaky Blinders, I have to say Helen McCrory’s portrayal of Polly Gray was absolutely captivating. She played the Shelby family’s aunt – and essentially the backbone of the whole operation – with such strength and a kind of otherworldly wisdom. Polly wasn’t just a leader within the gang; she was one of the few people who truly understood Tommy Shelby, seeing right through his plans and wielding a unique power over him and the situation at hand. Her presence was magnetic, and she really anchored the show for the first five seasons.
As a huge fan of Peaky Blinders, I was devastated when Helen McCrory passed away in 2021. The show handled it by killing off her character, Polly, in the first episode of season six – it turned out the IRA had her murdered because of Tommy’s attempt on Mosley’s life. Throughout that season, Ada Thorne, played by Sophie Rundle, really stepped up to fill the void Polly left in the family. Now, with the new series The Immortal Man, it’s fascinating to see Rebecca Ferguson’s character, Kaulo, take on a similar powerful role – though in a totally different way, of course. It’s like a nod to Polly’s influence, which I really appreciate.
During a conversation with Liam Crowley from ScreenRant about Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, Sophie Rundle (who plays Kaulo) talked about how her character relates to the late Helen McCrory’s Polly Gray. She highlighted the strong female characters that are a hallmark of the Peaky Blinders series, and noted that Kaulo carries a significant echo of Polly’s spirit, whether intentional or not, which is crucial to the story of The Immortal Man.
Rebecca Ferguson explained that the character of Kaulo was already well-defined in the script, allowing her to add her own personal touches. She particularly connected with a line Tommy speaks – ‘You never thought that a bird was going to fly in’ – seeing it as a parallel to discovering someone unexpected, like finding another person similar to Polly. She felt this line highlighted both Kaulo’s strengths and a subtle, intriguing sense of unpredictable power.
I’ll admit, I haven’t finished the whole series – I only have two seasons left to watch. I thought Polly’s character was incredible; she really balanced out the tough, complex male characters and provided a sense of stability. She was like the heart of the family. I especially loved the subtle, unspoken connection between her and Tommy. There was a definite, almost subconscious, understanding there. I could never replicate her performance, but even capturing a little bit of what she brought to the role, I think, is really important for this movie.
Kaulo, a Romani character with spiritual abilities introduced by Ferguson, shares similarities with Polly from Peaky Blinders. Like Polly, who was a key figure in Tommy’s journey, Kaulo is powerfully protective of her family. Both characters draw on a sense of inner strength to safeguard those they love.
Cillian Murphy agreed with the comparison between the characters Kaulo and Polly, saying he believes they would have gotten along well because they shared a similar approach. Although Tommy’s relationship with Kaulo differs from the one he had with his aunt Polly, both characters ultimately serve a similar purpose and have a distinct impact on Tommy’s story.
Several years after the events of Peaky Blinders, Tommy Shelby is pulled back into the criminal underworld from his self-imposed exile. He’s convinced by Billy Grade – formerly Ferguson – to assist his son, Duke Keoghan, who has become the new leader of the Peaky Blinders. But Duke is falling into dangerous territory, as Nazi supporters try to involve him in a plot that could impact World War II.
Joining the cast of the new Peaky Blinders story, The Immortal Man, alongside Cillian Murphy are new faces Jacob Ferguson and Barry Keoghan. They’ll be working with returning stars like Sophie Rundle (Ada), Packy Lee (Johnny Dogs), Ian Peck (Curly), Stephen Graham (Hayden Stagg), and Ned Dennehy (Charlie Strong). Tim Roth joins the series as Beckett, a new villain who aims to bring Duke over to his side.
The movie Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, which had a short run in theaters starting March 6th, will be available to stream on Netflix beginning Friday, March 20th. Critics have given the film very positive reviews, and it currently has a 93% “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
After the movie Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, the story will continue on Netflix with a new series. Currently, the show doesn’t have a title, but production is underway. It will be set in 1953, about ten years after the events of the film. Netflix has already ordered two seasons, and both Steven Knight and Cillian Murphy are involved as executive producers.
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2026-03-19 20:59