Cillian Murphy On ‘Peaky Blinders’ Final Season & Spending Nearly A Decade In Tommy Shelby’s Skin
09.06.2022 - 19:47
/ deadline.com
SPOILER ALERT: This post contains details of the final season of Peaky Blinders.
EXCLUSIVE: The sixth and final season of Peaky Blinders hits Netflix on Friday, after having aired to record ratings on BBC One in the UK earlier this year. Star Cillian Murphy, who plays Tommy Shelby, the head of the epic saga’s titular gang, recently reflected with Deadline on a decade of being in the tortured character’s skin.
Created by Steven Knight and produced by Caryn Mandabach Productions, Peaky began in 2013, going on to win a Best Drama BAFTA in its fourth season. Over the years it grew a rabid global fanbase. For its final season, it was forced to pivot as Covid hit while the show also dealt with the loss of beloved co-star Helen McCrory, who passed away before shooting began, another thing Murphy discusses below.
While the series is ending, a film is being plotted and Murphy tells us, “If there is more story to be told, I’ll be there.”
(This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.)
DEADLINE: You’re just back from shooting Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and have had some distance from Peaky, but you’ve told me before that the prep to get into the character of Tommy was intense. How much or how quickly were you able to leave him in the past?
CILLIAN MURPHY: As you said, I went off and did other things. Around this time last year we finished shooting and then I had about six months off and then I just finished Oppenheimer two weeks ago. So I feel like I’ve definitely shed that skin and had to climb into another one since then.
But the fact that it’s actually only coming onto Netflix now means that it’s kind of another section of the world or fans that can get to see it. I’m very pleased. I’m very proud of it — this last