Thomas Hardy Inspector Morse Reading at the Beginning of S2 E2

"Don't fuck with the Peaky Blinders!"

—Polly to Inspector Campbell

Elizabeth "Polly" Gray (née Shelby) was the mother of Michael and Anna Grayness, aunt of Arthur, Thomas, John, Ada and Finn Shelby, besides as being the matriarch of the Shelby Family. She was part of the Birmingham criminal gang, The Peaky Blinders, a certified accountant and company treasurer of Shelby Company Limited.

She managed the Peaky Blinders, when the Shelby brothers were absent during WWI. She was the unofficial head of the Shelby Family and ofttimes advised her nephews on the gang's business.

She was killed by the IRA, as a effect from her nephews actions, after they tried to have Oswald Mosley assassinated. Her body was then delivered to Thomas' firm, Arrow Firm, where he broke down in tears, from grief and guilt.

1 Character History
- ane.1 Background
- 1.2 Series 1 · 1919
- 1.iii Series 2 · 1922
- 1.4 Serial 3 · 1924
- 1.five Series iv · 1925-1926
- 1.six Serial 5 · 1929
two Relationships
- 2.1 Thomas Shelby
- 2.2 Michael Gray
- two.3 Her Husband Mr. Grayness
- 2.4 Ruben Oliver
- 2.5 Aberama Gold
- 2.vi Luca Changretta
three Skills & abilities
iv Appearances
v Quotes
- v.1 Series 1
- v.2 Series two
- 5.3 Series three
- 5.4 Series iv
six Paradigm Gallery
seven Reference

Character History

Background

Polly originates from criminal Gypsy family unit the Shelbys, daughter of Mr Shelby and Birdie Boswell. Polly tells her son Michael Gray that his Grandmother was Gypsy Princess named Baboon Boswell. Polly always wears the Black Madonna. Arthur Shelby Sr. calls her Pollyanna.

When she was immature and the police force were afterward her begetter, he used to take the family out, living in the wood.^[1] When she was 16 she fell pregnant, however the father did non render and she was forced to abort the child on her ain terms. ^[2]

She later married a river Gypsy Gray and had two children, Michael and Anna Gray. However, her husband died drunk, squeezed between a boat and a lock^[3] and both her children were taken from her by the parish authorities, in part due to the intervention of a neighbour.^[4]

Aunt Polly has looked afterwards her nephews Arthur Jr., Thomas, John, Finn and niece Ada since they were young, managed the Peaky Blinders and its businesses, while the Shelby boys were fighting in WWI.^[5]

Series 1 · 1919

Subsequently John, Arthur and Thomas return from the war, they accept over control of the Blinders, with Thomas eventually assuming leadership. However, Polly remains the matriarch and center of the family. Thomas keeps many things close to his breast, such as the fact that his men accidentally caused the incorrect crate during a routine option-upwardly, instead of taking a crate that independent Lewis automobile guns. Polly is the only one that Thomas volition confide in. When she is somewhen able to wheedle the information out of him, she tells him to dump the guns before he gets hanged for having them.

Polly finds out that Ada is pregnant with the child of Freddie Thorne, who has since fled the urban center from Inspector Chester Campbell. Polly tells Ada most how she was 16 when she offset became pregnant and how she most died from the abortion, hoping that the male parent of her child would come back. She tells Ada that they should have the train the following mean solar day, for Ada to get a proper abortion.

The adjacent day at the train station, Freddie arrives as they are almost to board the railroad train. He proposes to Ada and she says yes, but he tells Polly that they are staying in Birmingham and that he is not afraid of Thomas. However, when Polly tells Thomas, he confides that he promised Campbell that Freddie wouldn't come up dorsum. Polly tries to offer Freddie 200 pounds and a ticket to New York for him and Ada, but he again refuses to leave.

At John'south wedding to Esme Lee, Ada's water breaks and Polly takes her home to deliver the babe male child. She asks Thomas to allow Freddie to come to see his son and he agrees. Nonetheless, after the baby is built-in, the police raid the house and take Freddie away. Polly is furious and bursts into the Garrison Pub, yelling at Thomas and calling him a liar.

When Arthur brings domicile his absentee father Arthur Shelby Sr. having happened upon him in a battle club, Polly is disgusted to see the "thieving whore-monger" who abased his family unit. When Thomas walks in, his reaction is the same. While his father proclaims that he'due south a changed human, Thomas does non trust him. She is not surprised when he cons his son, Arthur, out of five hundred pounds.

Later, Polly tries to convince Ada to forgive Thomas. She tells Ada virtually her children and how the police took them away from her - Thomas is the one who brings strength and power to the Shelby family, so that the same thing won't happen to Ada and that Thomas will get Freddie out of jail. Polly brings Ada and her son to the side by side family meeting and Ada tells Thomas that she forgives him, as long every bit he does what Polly promised.

On Blackness Star Day, when the Blinders learn that they have been betrayed by Inspector Campbell and his spy Grace Burgess, Polly tells Thomas that she'll deal with Grace. Polly visits Grace at The Garrison Pub but every bit she is about to get out. They share drinks and Polly tells Grace that though Thomas might accept Grace into the family, Polly herself never volition. She tells Grace that if she sets eyes on her again she'll kill her.

Finally, Polly is seen with Thomas, Arthur and John at the Garrison, sharing a toast to the success of the Shelby family unit.

Series 2 · 1922

Polly has become withdrawn and depressed and visits a medium considering she had a dream about her daughter. The woman, Mrs Pryce of the Patch, tells her that her girl is expressionless, and Polly breaks down into tears. Withal, Esme subsequently warns her that the Gypsy adult female is a charlatan.

Thomas is able to discover what happened to Polly'southward children. The girl died of spring fever, but he locates the male child, Michael. Thomas will non requite Polly the address where Michael is and tells Polly that her son must choose to contact her if he wants. Even existence threatened past Polly belongings a gun to his head volition non motility Thomas. Polly fires her gun at the ceiling in impotent rage before heading out on a bender of epic proportions at the newly re-opened Garrison Pub. She is shown using opium and drinking alcohol, as well as having sex with a swain.

Polly Gray and her son Michael Gray in series 2

Polly is greeted the next morning by her son Michael, who has arrived in Birmingham to see her, and they catch upward after near eighteen years autonomously. Equally Michael offers to be the new accountant, Polly talks to Thomas and insists that her son non exist involved in the illegal activities of the Peaky Blinders and negotiates his pay.

When her son is thrown backside confined past Major Campbell for the burning of the Marquis of Lorne pub, Polly takes matters into her ain hands to become Michael out of jail. Major Campbell offers to sign Michael's release class, in exchange for Polly having sex with him. He specifically humiliates and both verbally and physically abuses her, demanding that she exist 'pocket-size and weak' and cry for him. Polly is disgusted past the demand simply reluctantly accepts in the end, thinking only of her son's freedom. Withal, Campbell rapes Polly forcefully despite her amenability.

The adjacent day, she goes to pick up Michael, who states that the guards told him what she has done to have him released.

Before going to Epsom, Polly lays cash in front of Michael, telling him to have the money and starting time a new life for himself in London, abroad from the "Birmingham life", which is what she should accept washed at the start, just now has business to attend to. At Epsom, Polly corners Major Campbell in a phone booth whilst on the phone with Winston Churchill. Despite his pleading, she shoots him in the heart and exits the bar.

Series 3 · 1924

In 1924 Polly attends to Thomas and Grace's hymeneals. A Russian Anton Kaledin comes and speaks with her considering information technology'southward Aunt Polly who Thomas Shelby trusts almost. She knows he's a spy, so he's killed by Arthur.

Polly also meets a portrait artist Ruben Oliver who plans to seduce her. Afterward Polly approaches Ruben to commission him to paint her portrait. While he's painting, he divulges that his main objective for seducing her. In the war against the Changrettas, Polly tells the boys to compromise but Thomas does not. Finally, Grace is shot. When there're conflicts in the family Polly manages to diffuse the situation with a phone call for family unity.

Thomas knows that Father Hughes is the traitor who passing information on to the Soviets and plans to kill him. Steaming drunkard, Aunt Polly makes a big mistake, she goes to confession at church building that her family is planning to murder "a man of the material". Father Hughes knows this means him and Thomas's plans fall apart.

Polly with her nephews' wives Linda, Esme and Lizzie Stark

Polly goes to see Ruben Oliver when portrait's finished and they accept sexual practice. The following day, Polly learns that Michael plans to kill Father Hughes and why Michael asks to do. Polly grieves over her son's pain, but she doesn't desire her son to get a killer.

Charles Shelby is kidnapped by Father Hughes. He wants Thomas to blow upwardly the train and wants the Russians' jewels including the Faberge Egg. Thomas starts accusing everyone in his firsthand family, that someone leaked the data about Faberge Egg. Thomas in the finish tells Polly information technology must be Ruben Oliver equally she may leak when she'due south drunk. But it'south not Polly who leaks and not Ruben who betrays, he comes to find Polly. Polly tells him that she wanted a dull life with him.

Michael kills Father Hughes and brings Charles abode where Polly sees the blood and embraces him. When business is over, Thomas calls the family unit meeting and tells them the police have issued warrants for the arrests of Arthur, John, Michael and Polly. This was ordered by their enemies whom they betrayed last night. Polly is arrested for the murder of Master Inspector Chester Campbell.

Series 4 · 1925-1926

Thomas Shelby, Polly Gray and Shelbys at John'southward funeral

Polly is almost to hang, praying to god and waiting to be sent to heaven, when a letter of the alphabet comes from the Male monarch to gear up her gratis. She suffers terribly from her showtime near-death experience after that. She blames her nephew Thomas, then leaves him, Shelby Company Limited and the Peaky Blinders. She goes to bad ways using prison house-tablets and whiskey for healing herself. Apparently, she believes since she put her caput inside the noose, she's complimentary to practise what she wants.

When Luca Changretta comes to attack the Shelbys, as the matriarch, Polly must come back to protect her family unit despite the bad blood between her and Thomas. Because of the Mafia's attacking, John is dead and Michael is desperately wounded. At John's funeral, Polly is the well-nigh upset at Tommy for using his ain brother's funeral equally a trap, using family unit members as baits and walks out. She too meets the hired hitman Aberama Aureate for the start fourth dimension. She knows he wants something other than just money with her second sight.

Michael persuades his female parent to help Thomas and promises and then he will go to Australia with her. Thomas likewise begs Polly to come up back. Polly tells Thomas she understands what he said at John's funeral. Polly makes things clear, she changes because she realizes "when you're dead already you're costless." and throws her tablets and whiskey abroad. Moreover, she'southward back to help him because of Michael. She advises her nephew on this situation especially asking Mr Gold what he really wants. Gold divulges to Thomas that he wants him to assistance his son Bonnie Golden to be a boxer.

Polly talks with her niece Ada about her lack of sex life and makes a New year'due south resolution, looking for "someone unsuitable" to sleep with. She attends the board meeting about the reinstatement of Polly to the position of The Shelby Company treasurer and dropping the constabulary of the bullet.

Later, she goes to the bar joining unexpected man Luca Changretta, who determines to kill her and her family. Polly makes a deal with Luca offer to sacrifice Thomas in commutation for the lives of Arthur, Michael and Finn, while they charm each other. Luca doesn't trust Polly easily, he uses Michael to threaten her that he tin can achieve her son at any time and he will impale her only son if she can't deliver Thomas. Polly makes an appointment for Thomas that she volition ship him to Luca and put the black star in Thomas's diary. Michael knows his mother's plot but he chooses not to tell Thomas considering he chooses his mother.

At last Luca realizes that was the plan that Polly sets him up because Thomas prepared machine gun and kills 3 of his men. The Shelby family notice out what happened, it's was the program that Polly and Thomas agreed on from the outset.

Polly takes Michael Gray out into the woods with Gypsies, the Palmers and the Boswells, by Aberama's support. After her son is gone with Attractive, Polly and Aberama are alone by the river in the forest. They're falling for each other. She tells about her life later on putting her head in the noose, she's got the second sight and she can practise anything she wants because of her lack of fearfulness of death. She makes out with him while threatens him with a pocketknife that, if annihilation happens to her son, she'll be his enemy. He understands her and they keep making out.

Polly and Lizzie Stark ans Linda Shelby at the ringside

In the night of the fight Bonnie versus Alfie Solomons'southward nephew Goliath, Luca sends assassins to kill her family. It's her oldest nephew Arthur, who's attacked, his funeral's set latterly. Thomas wants Michael to do business in America yet Michael doesn't want to become. Polly promises her son when this business's over, she and Michael will be free to brand their own choices.

Polly and Thomas work together to finish Luca Changretta. Changretta takes over Solomons then came to Birmingham to accept over Shelby Company Express where he knows that Arthur's expiry had been faked. They make a deal with one of Luca's rivals, 'big' mafioso Al Capone, thus switching the loyalty of Luca'southward henchmen. Arthur pulls the trigger in the end.

When the war confronting Mafia is over, and Thomas' mental affliction' dorsum, It's Polly who tells him to milk shake hands with the devils and walk by them. Thomas's dorsum and continues his bigger plans, Polly is the one who always stands by him.

Serial 5 · 1929

With Tommy'south initial absenteeism, Polly takes a greater role within Shelby Visitor Limited and is alerted of the Wall St. Crash immediately after it happens. Due to this, she returns home to sit down on the Board of Directors, wherein they talk over the situation and how it affects the visitor. She is glad to hear that all is non lost as Shelby Company Limited has diversified its portfolio and has investments around the world.

She is one of the first people that Ada openly talks nearly regarding her unborn child. She asks for advice, with Polly expressing concern that the begetter will carelessness the child and information technology volition grow into the Peaky life. Ada, yet is worried about Tommy'southward opinion, but Polly admits that he is already enlightened and hasn't shown much resistance.

When Michael finally returns from New York, Polly is among those who meets him at the train station and asks for the truth regarding the journeying home — in which it is suspected that Michael is plotting confronting Tommy with IRA help. Polly tells Michael that he does not accept a home until he is proven innocent, much to his daze. She is too nowadays when he is questioned past Tommy and Arthur at the Garrison, pleading with Tommy to take information technology easy on him every bit she believes him to be telling the truth; still Tommy and Arthur are both hard on Michael despite Polly'due south plead.

On her altogether, Polly visits Aberama Aureate in hospital post-obit the expiry of his son. Having visited him, she breaks him out of his room to stay with his sis. On the journey, he hands Polly a single rose and wishes her a happy birthday. Polly warns Aberama to lay low and allow Tommy to take care of Jimmy McCavern and the Billy Boys. All the same he leaves for Scotland the moment Polly is out of sight. This is the start nosotros see of a developing relationship between Aberama and Polly — after they had sex activity in the woods — which eventually leads to Tommy promising he will be allowed to marry Polly if he called truce with the Baton Boys while they practise business organisation together. He agrees and, not long later in The Loop Aberama proposes to Polly and she accepts.

Relationships

Thomas Shelby

The relationship between Thomas and Polly is a close one. She is perhaps his closest counselor with things related both to the family business concern, Shelby Company Limited, and the Peaky Blinders. She holds a loftier ranking position within the Peaky Blinders due to her close relationship with her nephew, and on multiple occasions he puts Polly in interim accuse — he also states on one occasion that if he does not render, she is to assume charge permanently.

Michael Gray

Afterward recurring dreams of her daughters death, Polly seeks answers about her children and their electric current whereabouts. This somewhen leads her son, Michael, back to her. She quickly becomes appreciating with him, devoting her life to him and introducing him to the family business concern and the Peaky Blinders. She does, however shield him within the Peaky Blinders in guild to keep his hands make clean.

Her Husband Mr. Gray

Polly tells Michael Gray nearly his male parent that he's a Gypsy, died drunk, squeezed between a boat and a dock. She tells when her past married man was sober, he was kind and gentle. He could sing, play the pianoforte, has got a cute smile and has got the aforementioned beautiful eyes as Michael's. His trouble was he fell in with the incorrect oversupply when he was a boy. ^[6]

Ruben Oliver

In 1924 at the wedding of Thomas and Grace, Polly knows Ruben Oliver is giving her the eyes. She thinks that he looks harmless and talks to him. Subsequently Polly approaches Ruben to commission him to pigment her portrait. He'southward fascinated by her beauty, saying she's a woman of substance and class.

They came from a different social club, he's a well-educated creative person but she has never been educated, is the dame of a criminal gang and a murderess. Still, he pursues and seduces her until things accept begun to develop between them. Finally, Polly decides to come for him at night and sleeps with him. Polly trusts him, leading her to share the secret of her interest in the murder of Campbell with him.

The side by side day, he leaves her. When Charles Shelby is kidnapped, Thomas leads her to believe that Ruben betrayed her. She is heartbroken. Nonetheless, he appears and makes it clear that he was not the one who betrayed her. He tells her he is set up to enter her world. She tells him that she wants a dull life and him, then they embrace and kiss.

Afterwards in 1925-1926, Polly'south solitary without Ruben Oliver and she looks for "someone unsuitable" to slumber with. Moreover, she says "I've lost a man" to Ada Shelby. ^[vii]

Aberama Gold

What starts off as a man that Polly describes as a savage and a dangerous chemical element, ends upwardly being somebody that she becomes fascinated by quite quickly. They're both Gypsies, widows and criminals.

Thomas brings in Aberama Gold because he needs this human'due south specific expertise fighting confronting Luca Changretta. She meets him the first time at John Shelby'southward funeral, while he looks at her flirtatiously, she knows he wants something other than just money with her second sight.

When Polly and Aberama are alone in the wood. They develop their romantic relationship. He'due south the man with a bad reputation but treats her with respect while she tells about her second sight, his dead wife and her life afterward a near-decease feel. They're falling for each other. She seduces him and calls him "a strong, handsome human". They brand out while she threatens him with a knife that, if any damage comes to her son, Michael, she'll be his enemy. He understands her and calls her "a beautiful ghost". They continue making out in the wood.

Finally, he does not betray her and brings her son dorsum for her. They're talking happily together in Shelby family party.

Luca Changretta

Luca Changretta is the Mafia mobster who has a vendetta against the Shelbys especially plans to impale her. Luca'southward mother Instructor Audrey Changretta knows Polly's mother and she taught her how to read. Audrey knows Polly and said to his son that "Polly Gray, that child would never let go of a grievance and she loves to dance." ^[8] Polly makes a deal with Luca giving Thomas Shelby, sparing the rest moreover they charm each other. At last, he realises that was the programme that Polly sets him upwards, information technology's was the programme that Polly and Thomas agreed on.

Skills & abilities

Business: She'due south a certified auditor and company treasurer of Shelby Visitor Express. She managed the Peaky Blinders when the Shelby boys were absent during the Great War.
Leadership: She is the dame of the Shelby Family unit and, every bit mentioned, is often in charge of the Peaky Blinders while her nephew, Tommy, is away on family business.
2nd Sight: She believes she sees spirits and can speak with the expressionless.

Appearances

Series one Appearances
Episode 1.one	Episode 1.2	Episode ane.3	Episode one.four	Episode 1.5	Episode 1.vi

Series 2 Appearances
Episode two.1	Episode ii.2	Episode ii.3	Episode 2.iv	Episode 2.five	Episode 2.6

Serial three Appearances
Episode iii.1	Episode iii.2	Episode iii.3	Episode 3.4	Episode 3.five	Episode three.vi

Serial 4 Appearances
The Noose	Heathens	Blackbird	Unsafe	The Duel	The Visitor

Serial 5 Appearances
Black Tuesday	Black Cats	Strategy	The Loop	The Stupor	Mr Jones

Quotes

Series 1

"Speak. God and Aunt Polly are listening."

"I know having four kids without a woman is difficult, but my kick's harder."

"Rule one. Yous don't punch above your weight."

"Y'all know the words. You're a whore. Baby's a bastard. Merely there'south no word for the man who doesn't come up back."

"I'thousand having trouble these days and I'm twice the man you lot are."

"Men and their cocks never cease to amaze me."

"You can never tell with men. They become for whoever their dicks signal at and there'southward no changing their minds."

Tangina mo'

Series 2

"This is a respectable fucking neighbourhood!."

"We don't need more than fucking men! It's men that have done the damage! It... Information technology is men fighting similar cockerels"

"You lot like it modest and weak, well now small and weak has a gun"'

"Don't fuck with the Peaky Blinders."

Series 3

"My senior position inside the Shelby company means I don't often have to ask permission from anyone to exercise anything."

"It's a family united that shall never be defeated."

"I call up when men desire sexual activity, they become hilarious. Similar a canis familiaris, when y'all pick upward a lead, and he knows he's going for a walk."

"You should call this painting Fuck Them All."

"I swear to God if my son pulls the trigger, I volition bring this whole fucking organisation down around your ears."

"So at an alternative time, when we have all recovered I would like to put before the family an alternative view of the time to come of the Shelby Visitor Limited. A more hopeful view. Which I, for one, would quite like to hear"

Series iv

"I never idea my high fucking heels from Paris would be stepping through the whole shit of Pocket-sized Heath ever again."

"When you're dead already yous're gratis."

"Just me and someone unsuitable."

"Whilst working for this company, I have killed a human, I have lost a man, I accept institute a son, I have almost lost a son, I have near lost my ain life. Now, I volition accept my job back if the terms on offer are favourable, but I will non behave myself."

"You have Tommy. Spare the rest."

"Men don't have the strategic intelligence to conduct a state of war between families. Men are less good at keeping secrets out of their lies."

"Came back when I put my head in the noose. Information technology's similar putting your head through a window and seeing the whole world. ... When you've put your head out of that window you tin do anything y'all desire, cos there are no rules, cos at that place are no risks."

"None of your knives can impale me."

"We live somewhere betwixt life and expiry. Waiting to move on. And in the end we have it. We milkshake easily with the devils and we walk past them."