Cillian Murphy admitted he was “alarmed” by the undercut hairstyle he wore as Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders and never understood why fans loved it so much.
The Irish actor, 49, portrayed the iconic Birmingham gangster from 2013 to 2022. Despite the hairstyle becoming a cultural phenomenon, Murphy said he found the trend “crazy” and couldn’t grasp why so many people embraced it.
“I’ve gotten more tolerant of the haircut over the years. And bizarrely, it’s become a desirable cut amongst the fashionistas, which is staggering to me,” he said.
Although the style sparked a major fashion trend, Murphy, who usually keeps his hair long, never personally liked it. “I was alarmed by the haircut, I have to admit,” he said, adding, “but I’m contractually obliged to have it.”
While he may not favor the look himself, Murphy acknowledged that its widespread popularity reflects the massive cultural impact of Peaky Blinders. The haircut became a signature of the show. Fans around the world adopted it as a tribute to the character and the series.
Being Thomas Shelby
To bring the brooding and complex Tommy Shelby to life, Cillian Murphy adopted a range of physical and vocal techniques. “I’m not the most imposing of individuals in my own life,” he explained, “so I go to the gym and lift things and put them down again. I dropped the level of Tommy’s voice. Then there’s the cigarettes, of course.”
Despite his aversion to the hairstyle, Murphy’s portrayal of Tommy Shelby has left a lasting legacy in pop culture.
Murphy is set to return in the upcoming spin-off series. The series creator, Steven Knight, confirmed that a Peaky Blinders spin-off set in the 1950s is officially in the works. The show will be filmed in Birmingham, the original stomping grounds of the Shelby clan.
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