Peaky Blinders follows the story of the Peaky Blinders gang, a gang that was known to sew razor blades into the peaks of their caps and to use them as weapons against anyone who crossed them in the early 20th century. In particular, the show focuses on the Shelby family and its patriarch Thomas Shelby (played by Cillian Murphy), whose exploits during this time period result in him earning the nickname The Peaky Blinder himself. Why Cillian Murphy Is the Perfect Fit for Peaky Blinders
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His range of performances
After Peaky Blinders, fans will likely be aware of Murphy’s versatility. For example, he can play Tommy Shelby one day and a villain in a Bond film (Dr. Crane in Spectre) just months later. This versatility is a big reason why Murphy was cast as Tommy Shelby and helps explain his success at landing parts in major Hollywood films. Playing different types of characters helps an actor more easily convince viewers that they are someone else—which is precisely what every actor wants to do! The best actors are able to keep up with their characters from project to project, so whether you see him as a grizzled gangster or a dapper-but-sinister villain, you never forget who Thomas Shelby is supposed to be.
The way he plays Tommy Shelby
A gangster in a suit is one thing, but watching Tommy Shelby fall down and get back up again is something completely different. His performance isn’t built on overly dramatic monologues or prestige TV syndrome. It’s grounded in reality and so intense that you can’t help but be drawn into every scene he’s in—whether he’s interrogating a soldier during World War I or having an emotional breakdown when trying to make ends meet.
He plays each scene as if it could be his last, which makes Thomas Shelby less of a character and more of a man who embraces life and leans into risk over caution; any danger just adds to his adrenaline rush.
He’s done his research
If you’ve seen Peaky Blinders, you know it’s not a show that takes itself too seriously. Each episode is packed with plot twists and laughs; each season set in a different location throughout England. It certainly doesn’t hurt that there are plenty of beautiful men on screen, including Sam Claflin as Oswald Mosley and Noah Taylor as Chester Campbell. But perhaps its most critical character is Thomas Shelby, portrayed by actor Cillian Murphy.
He knows how to get into character
Does being Irish give you a leg up in Hollywood? Quite possibly, at least according to those who frequent Tinseltown. This year’s Oscar nominations see an impressive number of Irish nominees, including Michael Fassbender, Saoirse Ronan and Kate Winslet. But while they’ve been keeping their accents under wraps, Cillian Murphy is letting his shine through in his hit series Peaky Blinders. The show is set in 1920s Birmingham (the British equivalent of Chicago) and follows a gang of decorated soldiers returning from World War I. Tommy Shelby (Murphy) rises to power as leader of his gang by ruling Birmingham with an iron fist and helping them launder money during Prohibition.
He’s Irish, so we love him more
There’s just something about a brooding Irish actor that makes us weak in the knees. Maybe it’s that accent, or maybe we just can’t resist those green eyes and dark features, but there’s something about him that makes him a must-watch onscreen. When you’re watching a show like Peaky Blinders , it’s hard not to think how much better it would be if it was starring Michael Fassbender or Colin Farrell instead. While we wish we could swap out all of our favorite Hollywood actors with Irishmen ( Colin Farrell as Deadpool anyone? ), there is one role we wouldn’t want to be recast: Tommy Shelby. The reason?
Season three will begin filming in March 2018.
In September 2017, creator Steven Knight confirmed that Peaky Blinders would begin filming season three in March 2018. Unlike previous seasons, which all took place in real time, there will be a significant time jump between seasons three and four. The series is expected to return to BBC Two and BBC One later in 2018. For now, here’s everything we know about season three so far:According to Deadline , producers are looking to cast up-and-coming actors with solid Cockney accents between ages 21 and 24 to play soldiers who return from war around 1918.
Is Cillian Murphy Thomas Shelby?
Well, judging by his stellar performance as Thomas Shelby in Steven Knight’s crime drama series, Peaky Blinders, we think it is safe to say that he could very well be a modern-day reincarnation of him. There are actually plenty of compelling reasons why we think so. For instance, did you know that Cillian has been living in Birmingham since 2013? It was at that time when he decided to make himself at home here with his family while taking part in a stage production called The Pride. In fact, during his days off between June and October 2013, Cillian traveled around Birmingham exploring its landmarks such as Cannon Hill Park and St. Philip’s Cathedral among other things.
Why did Cillian Murphy change his name?
The actor was born Cillian Gerard Faherty in Douglas, Cork, Ireland. He is one of four children and spent a lot of time with his grandmother during his youth. His father left when he was 3 years old and married his mother’s best friend shortly thereafter. Because of these tumultuous early years, he decided to change his name from Cillian to Cillian as a teenager when he was considering acting as a career path. He chose Murphy because it sounded more Irish than Gerard.
Is Tommy and Thomas Shelby same?
Tommy Shelby is Tommy from Tommy’s in a gang called The Peaky Blinders. His stepfather died and his mother remarried so he lives with her new husband Bill, who ends up being kind of abusive. He meets an old childhood friend named Arthur Shelby (Arthur is someone you can trust) who lives next door to him now. Bill ends up hurting Tommy’s mother one day, so he hits Bill and runs away from home. He joins The Peaky Blinders in Birmingham, which was headed by his old childhood friend, Arthur Shelby.
