Cillian Murphy returns as Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders. [Image Source: NYMAG]
Cillian Murphy secured his iconic role as Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders with a simple yet impactful four-word text sent to show creator Steven Knight during their first meeting. The actor and writer revealed their initial encounter while discussing the upcoming film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man on BBC Breakfast, highlighting Murphy’s dedication to embodying the complex character.
Behind the Scenes of Their First Meeting
Murphy and Knight detailed how their collaboration began over a decade ago, dating back to the shooting of the first series in 2012. During their early conversation, Murphy reportedly sent the message: “Remember I’m an actor,” emphasizing that while he wasn’t initially the clear choice for the role, he was determined to transform himself into Tommy Shelby.
Steven Knight remarked on this moment, explaining that Murphy’s message distinguished the person they had met from the character he was destined to become. This distinction reassured the production team about Murphy’s commitment to the role.
Murphy acknowledged the challenge of landing the part, stating,
“Little did I know it would make such a good story for interviews. It’s true because I wasn’t the obvious casting for the part. They’re tricky those interviews slash audition meetings because you’re never going to be able to demonstrate you’re able to do it and I loved the script so much but there was a bit of a leap so I wanted to reinforce to them that I would work really hard on it.”
Cillian Murphy
Despite Murphy’s efforts, Knight later revealed that the actor had actually been selected for Tommy Shelby before they officially met, although Murphy himself was unaware at the time.
Reflecting on his mindset, Murphy added,
Image of: Cillian Murphy
“I really like the idea of a challenge and the transformative nature of acting so I was just trying to reassure them I could do it,”
Cillian recalled.
Performing Dangerous Stunts in The Immortal Man
In the newly released film, Murphy reprised his role, performing intense scenes that included interaction with a rearing stallion. Steven Knight praised the authenticity of Murphy’s stunt work, noting the actor’s real-life courage and skill seen during the shoot.
Knight commented,
“There is a scene in the film where Tommy Shelby confronts a rearing stallion and it’s for real and it’s not a stuntman, it’s you,”
Steven Knight shared.
“The fact that you stand there like that, I know a bit about horses, that is quite incredible.”
Murphy elaborated on the harrowing sequence, explaining how the scene was filmed amidst gunfire that spooked many horses. He said,
“There’s an amazing sequence and it’s brilliantly written and it happens in this mortuary and there’s all these horses around and there’s gunfire so all the horses get spooked. We have these amazing horse wranglers but they wanted the huge stallion to rear up and come down and Tommy speaks to him and calms him down.”
He further admitted,
“We did it all for real but he got pretty close.”
Cillian Murphy
The Film’s Release and Audience Access
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is currently in cinemas and became available for streaming on Netflix starting March 20. Fans of the series and Murphy’s portrayal of Tommy Shelby can now watch the gripping story unfold on screen.
Significance of Murphy’s Commitment to the Role
Cillian Murphy’s dedication to convincingly bringing Tommy Shelby to life, from his initial convincing text to performing his own stunts in risky scenes, reflects the actor’s deep commitment. This determination helped shape the enduring success of Peaky Blinders, highlighting the transformative power of acting and its challenges. As the story continues in film form, Murphy’s performance remains central to maintaining the series’ impact and engaging long-time fans across new platforms.
