Cillian Murphy Reveals the Secret Behind Tommy Shelby's Enduring Appeal
Nearly thirteen years after his debut, Tommy Shelby remains one of television's most compelling anti-heroes. As the ruthless yet charismatic leader of the Peaky Blinders, this complex character has captivated audiences worldwide, thanks largely to Cillian Murphy's masterful performance. In a new Netflix film titled The Immortal Man, Tommy returns to confront the reckless younger generation of Peaky Blinders, now led by his illegitimate son Duke, portrayed by Barry Keoghan, during the tumultuous backdrop of World War Two.
The Nuanced Art of Portraying a Villain
Despite Tommy Shelby's history of violence, betrayal, and brutality over six seasons, fans continue to adore this multifaceted character. In a recent interview alongside new co-star Tim Roth, Murphy delved into the reasons behind this paradoxical affection. The Oscar-winning actor initially expressed uncertainty about the myriad factors that contribute to Tommy's allure but ultimately credited the medium of long-form television.
"It allows you to really explore all the light and shade, all the different complexities that characters can have," Murphy explained. "And despite the fact that this is gangster and stylised and genre and heightened, there's a great deal of humanity in it. Like, if the character gets injured, he stays injured. There're consequences from the violence."
Murphy emphasized that the extended narrative format fosters a unique emotional investment from viewers. "I think if you spend that length of time with a character, you will begin to invest in them in an emotional, kind of intimate way, which you don't always get with films," he added. "With long form telly, it's unusual, and there's an ownership that the audience has which is kind of interesting."
The Collaborative Craft of Character Development
Tim Roth, who plays the Nazi-sympathizer Beckett in the new film, echoed Murphy's sentiments about the depth afforded by television. "You can put a character under a microscope and spend time with their weaknesses," Roth noted. "You can do a whole episode on one aspect of a character and investigate it, whereas you don't necessarily have the time to do that cinematically."
Murphy modestly deflected praise for his own role in Tommy's popularity, attributing it instead to the fans. "It's very humbling when it does, but I do think that's the fans doing," he stated. Beyond his performance, Murphy has also played a significant part in reshaping perceptions of Birmingham, mastering the local accent with quiet flair to portray Tommy's Small Heath roots authentically.
"Originally when we started doing it, I would leave voice messages on [series creator] Steve Knight's phone because he's a true-blue Brummie, and he would let me know if I was getting close," Murphy recalled. He intentionally avoided caricature, aiming to make Tommy "cool and mysterious, just like Birmingham has all of that."
Introducing a New Adversary: Tim Roth's Beckett
In The Immortal Man, Tommy faces one of his most formidable opponents yet: Beckett, a chillingly casual Nazi ally portrayed by Tim Roth. Initially written with an aristocratic, militaristic vibe, Roth suggested a transformation, envisioning the character as "a geography teacher" to add a layer of paternal masquerade. Beckett collaborates with Duke, leveraging the gang's criminal network to aid the Nazi war effort.
Murphy described the dynamic between Tommy and Beckett as explosive yet minimal in direct interaction. "They kind of circle around each other, and the two times they encounter each other is very explosive and visceral, but there's not that much interaction – and yet each has a huge influence on the other," he shared. "I think initially Beckett would have liked to have done business with Tommy. He ends up with Tommy's son, and he has to kind of recalibrate in terms of how he's going to get this thing done. But I do think they feel like sort of equals and opposite sides of the coin."
Roth highlighted the importance of a worthy adversary in storytelling. "You need to create a big enough mountain for these guys to climb over, to conquer," he pointed out. "And I think [Knight] did such a good job in writing that."
A Legacy of Discipline and Gratitude
Reflecting on his journey with Tommy Shelby, Murphy expressed immense gratitude for the role that has been a significant part of his life. "To be given that level of quality of writing for that length of time, and for the story to have gotten richer and deeper, more satisfying for us, and for the fans that have been so loyal and stayed with the show," he said. The fast-paced production of the series taught him discipline, as they aimed to maintain high cinematic ambition and production values throughout.
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is now showing in UK and US cinemas and will begin streaming exclusively on Netflix from March 20, offering fans a new chapter in the saga of Tommy Shelby's complex legacy.
