For over a decade, audiences around the world have associated Cillian Murphy with one of television’s most iconic antiheroes: Tommy Shelby, the ruthless and calculating leader of the Shelby crime family in Peaky Blinders. But according to Murphy, the real man behind the character couldn’t be more different.
The Irish actor recently spoke about his career, his upcoming projects, and how stepping away from Shelby has allowed him to explore very different roles. At 49, Murphy has played the Birmingham gangster for nearly a quarter of his life — but he insists he is nothing like the “psychopathic gangster” fans love to watch on screen.
Playing Tommy Shelby: A Defining Journey
Murphy admitted that embodying Tommy Shelby across six seasons since 2013 has been one of the most rewarding experiences of his career.
“To grow older with a character, you don’t really get to do that, and that is the joy of long-form television,” he explained. “We never anticipated that the TV show would have that impact, would be so adored and have that longevity. It is defining.”
The Peaky Blinders series ended in 2022, but its cultural legacy is far from over. Netflix has confirmed that a feature film continuation is on the way, with creator Steven Knight penning the script. Murphy, however, is keeping details about the project tightly under wraps.
“I think it’s better to keep it under wraps, keep it a surprise,” he teased, refusing to give away plot details.
Moving Beyond Shelby
While the Shelby role defined an era of his career, Murphy is clear that it doesn’t define who he is. “I’m nothing like Tommy,” he emphasized. Unlike Shelby, Murphy describes himself as far from violent or psychopathic.
Since the conclusion of Peaky Blinders, Murphy has stretched his acting muscles with other projects. He starred in Small Things Like These and won international acclaim — and an Academy Award — for his role as J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer.
“The beauty of Peaky Blinders is that I could go off and do other things in between seasons,” he reflected. “That’s allowed me to grow as an actor while returning to a character people loved.”
His New Film Steve
Murphy’s latest project takes him in a very different direction. In the new film Steve, he plays the headteacher of a reform school for troubled boys in the 1990s. The movie, based on Max Porter’s 2023 novella Shy, tells the story of a single chaotic day at the school where everything that can go wrong, does.
Steve, Murphy’s character, struggles to guide and discipline his students while wrestling with his own inner demons. Alongside him is Shy (played by Jay Lycurgo), a teenager dealing with personal turmoil. Both receive devastating news that pushes them to their limits, creating a tense and emotional journey.
Murphy describes the movie as a tribute to educators. “It’s a love letter to teachers,” he said. “They are custodians of the next generation.”
Themes That Resonate Today
Although set in 1996, Steve addresses timeless issues: education in difficult environments, men’s mental health, and the struggles of adolescence. Murphy pointed out how relevant the themes still are.
“It’s just demonstrating that this stuff is always there,” he said. “The conversations are manifold and different. Everyone sees it through the prism of their own life experience.”
By placing troubled youth and flawed adults side by side, the film highlights how fragile human resilience can be. “It’s the flip side of a coin,” Murphy explained. “These characters are experiencing similar turmoil but can’t quite reach each other.”
Collaboration With Max Porter
The film’s screenplay was adapted by Max Porter, who originally wrote the novella Shy. Murphy and Porter already shared a creative history, having collaborated on the stage play Grief Is the Thing with Feathers, based on Porter’s debut book.
Their ongoing partnership gives Steve a literary depth that sets it apart from conventional school dramas. By blending Porter’s poetic storytelling with Murphy’s intensity, the film delivers both heartbreak and hope.
What About Peaky Blinders: The Movie?
Fans of Peaky Blinders are eager to know how the upcoming Netflix film will continue the Shelby family saga. Murphy has remained cautious, only confirming that the script is complete and filming is set to begin soon. Co-star Jay Lycurgo, who appears in Steve, is also set to feature in the movie but has followed Murphy’s lead in keeping details secret.
The franchise’s success, Murphy believes, comes down to more than just great performances. “Mostly the writing, I think, but also it was a moment in time. It was magic.”
Balancing Fame and Family
Despite his fame, Murphy has always been a private individual. Unlike Tommy Shelby, who thrives on power and control, Murphy values his quiet family life in Ireland. He has often said that when he’s not working, he enjoys simple routines away from the Hollywood spotlight.
This balance between stardom and normalcy has allowed him to take on challenging roles while avoiding the “celebrity persona” that often comes with success.
Looking Ahead
With Steve now in cinemas and scheduled to arrive on Netflix next month, audiences will get to see a new side of Cillian Murphy — one that emphasizes vulnerability and humanity rather than cold-blooded ruthlessness. Meanwhile, excitement continues to build for the Peaky Blinders film, which promises to deliver another chapter in the Shelby family’s story.
For Murphy, the ability to step in and out of such different roles is both a gift and a privilege. And while he may never escape the shadow of Tommy Shelby completely, he seems content to let the character live on in fans’ imaginations while he continues to explore new horizons.