The powerful women of Peaky Blinders [1] are a force to be reckoned with, there's no doubt about it. As the gritty BBC crime drama has progressed over five compelling seasons (soon to be six [2], with a potential movie on the way), we've fallen in love with every single leading lady connected to the Shelby brothers, and will continue to hold them close to our hearts long after the series comes to its inevitable end.
From resident matriarch Aunt Polly (aka the late Helen McCrory [3]) and the only female sibling, Ada Shelby, to Lizzie Stark, Gina Gray, Linda Shelby and, of course, undercover agent Grace Burgess, these badass women continue to prove their worth season after season.
Playing a vital role in both personal and professional aspects of each and every Shelby brother's lives, the phrase "behind every great man is a great woman" has never rung more true than when talking about the women of Peaky Blinders. Their collective force has never been as clear as it is now [4] and they continually work hard to protect both themselves and their families. With the sixth instalment of the series set to be released next month, we look forward to seeing plenty more from the ladies of Peaky Blinders.
So who are all of these incredible women that the show has introduced us to in the last five series? Let's refresh our memories. Keep reading to discover everything there is to know about the fierce women of Peaky Blinders and the equally fierce actors behind them.
Gina Gray, played by Anya Taylor-Joy
At the beginning of season five, we met Michael's affluent American wife, Gina Gray, played by actor Anya Taylor-Joy [5]. While she appeared confident, strong-willed, and unapologetically ambitious, there was more to her than meets the eye. Though nothing was said, she seemed to be the brains behind Michael's move to take over as Tommy's heir and leader of Shelby Company Limited. Based on these actions and her desire to return to the US, we're predicting she'll continue to shake things up come season six.
We're about to see a lot more of American-born English actor Anya-Taylor Joy [6]. A rising star thanks to her roles in movies like The Witch, Split, and Glass, since starring as Gina Gray, she has landed roles in Edgar Wright's Last Night in Soho [7] and Jane Austen's Emma.
Lizzie Stark, played by Natasha O'Keeffe
When we first met Lizzie Stark, played by Natasha O'Keeffe, she was a prostitute engaged to John Shelby. Though the marriage was eventually called off, she continued to work for Tommy until he eventually offered her a job as his secretary, where she quickly found herself caught up in one of the Peaky Blinders' master plans, which saw her raped despite Tommy promising to protect her. As the series developed, so too did Lizzie's involvement with the Shelby family and Tommy, and she became pregnant with his child at the end of season four. The couple married and welcomed their daughter, Ruby, and though their relationship was pretty tense in season 5, Tommy and Lizzie always seem to find their way back to each other.
Born in Brighton, Natasha O'Keeffe is most recognisable as Abbey Smith from the fantasy drama Misfits. Prior to landing her role in Peaky Blinders, she also starred in the film Filth, and TV series The Last Panthers and Resistance, among others.
Linda Shelby, played by Kate Phillips
Arthur's wife, Linda Shelby (played by Kate Phillips), was originally a devout Christian, attempting to help Arthur through sobriety, mental issues, and PTSD as a result of the First World War. Fast forward to season four, and Linda was as ruthless as the rest of the Shelby family, challenging Tommy about Arthur's right to hold influence over the family and Shelby Company Limited.
In addition to Peaky Blinders, Kate Phillips has starred in a number of hit British TV series, such as Wolf Hall, War & Peace, and The Crown. She played Princess Marry in the movie adaptation of Downton Abbey and Eliza Scarlet in Miss Scarlet and the Duke.
Grace Burgess, played by Annabelle Wallis
In Peaky Blinders season one, Tommy quickly fell for Grace Burgess (played by Annabelle Wallis), an undercover agent posing as a barmaid who was sent to spy on the Shelby family. Once her real identity was revealed, she left Birmingham and got married, but it wasn't long before she and Tommy found a way back to each other.
Grace then fell pregnant with Tommy's child, baby Charlie is born, and the two decided to get married. The newlyweds host a party with the intention of improving their reputation, however, Grace was shot and killed by a bullet that was meant for Tommy — something that will haunt him forever. After her death, the ghost of Grace continued to appear in season five, indicating the tremendous affect she had on Tommy's life and the struggle he faced trying to overcome her death, which we're interested to see play out in the sixth series.
Annabelle Wallis [8] is best known for her work in The Tudors, the aptly named Annabelle, and The Mummy. Born in the UK, she grew up in Portugal and speaks Portuguese, French, Spanish, and Armenian.
Ada Shelby, played by Sophie Rundle
"Everything that you imagine about the 20s, the flapper girls and the bright young things, Ada kind of embodies a lot of that. She's part of this new generation with all this energy that's looking for a change after the First World War," actor Sophie Rundle, who plays Ada, told the BBC. The only female of the Shelby family, Ada Shelby is just as ruthless as her brothers. Widower to well-known communist Freddie Thorne, Ada distanced herself from the family before growing bored and taking up the position of Head of Property and Acquisitions in America in season three. Ada and Tommy share a special bond, and she is often the person who Tommy chooses to confide in about his personal troubles.
Sophie Rundle got her big break in Peaky Blinders, but prior to this, you may have spotted her onscreen in Shetland, Merlin, and Episodes. Now well-known in the UK thanks to her role as Ada, she's scored leading roles in Happy Valley, Bodyguard, Gentleman Jack, and more.
Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory
Peaky Blinders would be nothing without Aunt Pol, the matriarch of the Shelby family, played by the late British actor Helen McCory. She single-handedly managed the Shelby Limited Company while Tommy, Arthur, and John were away at war and up until now, acted as the company's treasurer and Tommy's consigliere. Her skill of reading people like the back of a book, which many refer to as a "second sight", that consistently kept Tommy and the group of gangsters ahead every season.
Speaking to Digital Spy [9] back in 2019, Helen McCrory said of Polly, "I don't think it's this weird alien thing that's to do with a Ouija board and water . . . she might bring in the theatricality of that a bit, for other people, if she really wants to make her point across, but I think the truth of it is that she is very instinctive." Supernatural or not, without Pol, the Peaky Blinders would not exist.
Prior to playing Aunt Pol, Helen McCory starred as Narcissa Malfoy in Harry Potter [10], Cherie Blair in The Queen, and Clair Dowar MP in Skyfall. She's also had roles in Fantastic Mr. Fox, Doctor Who, and, most recently, His Dark Materials (she provided the voice for Stelmaria, Lord Asriel's daemon). McCrory died in April 2021 [11] after a battle with cancer.