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Where Is the “Peaky Blinders” Cast Now? All About Their Lives Since the Show's End — and Who Is Returning for the New Movie

Keith Langston
10 min read
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The cast of 'Peaky Blinders' has continued impressive careers since the show concluded in 2022

BBC 'Peaky Blinders' cast posing
BBC 'Peaky Blinders' cast posing

Peaky Blinders was a crime drama that centered around the titular street gang-turned-criminal enterprise in Birmingham, England, loosely inspired by a real gang that was active in England during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The Netflix and BBC series had a starry cast, including Cillian Murphy, Sam Neill and Tom Hardy, as well as guest performances from actors including Adrien Brody and Anya Taylor-Joy. Led by Thomas Shelby (Murphy), the Peaky Blinders must avoid the police and rival gangs, all while trying to build their empire in the years following World War I.

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Related: Peaky Blinders Movie: Everything the Cast Has Said About the Upcoming Film

The show ran for six seasons from 2013 to 2022, and in June 2024, Netflix announced that they were making a Peaky Blinders film, with some of the same cast, in partnership with BBC Films.

Now that the series has concluded, and fans are awaiting the upcoming film, here's what the cast of Peaky Blinders is up to now.

Cillian Murphy as Thomas "Tommy" Shelby

Netflix Cillian Murphy as Thomas
Netflix Cillian Murphy as Thomas "Tommy" Shelby in 'Peaky Blinders'

Cillian Murphy plays Thomas Shelby, the leader of the Peaky Blinders gang and the head of Shelby Company Limited. The actor will return to play the infamous character in the Peaky Blinders movie.

Before taking on his starring role in Peaky Blinders, Murphy was already a huge star. His first breakout role came in 2002 when he starred in the zombie horror film 28 Days Later. Throughout that decade, he went on to star in films like Red Eye (2005), Batman Begins (2005) and Inception (2010), before landing the role of Thomas in Peaky Blinders in 2013.

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Related: Who Is Cillian Murphy's Wife? All About Yvonne McGuinness

During his time on Peaky, Murphy acted in Dunkirk (2017) and A Quiet Place Part II (2020). In July 2023, he starred as the titular character in Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan's biopic about creating the atomic bomb.

The movie was a blockbuster and won seven Oscars including Best Picture. Murphy, who was joined in the cast by Matt Damon, Emily Blunt and Josh Hartnett, also won his first Oscar, for Best Actor, for his starring turn in the film.

Outside of acting, Murphy has been married to the artist Yvonne McGuinness since 2004. The couple have two children together, Malachy and Aran.

Sam Neill as Chester Campbell

Netflix/courtesy Everett Sam Neill as Chester Campbell in 'Peaky Blinders'
Netflix/courtesy Everett Sam Neill as Chester Campbell in 'Peaky Blinders'

Sam Neill portrayed Chester Campbell, a police inspector drafted from Belfast to help rid Birmingham of street gangs. Despite being killed in the shocking finale of season 2, Inspector Campbell remains a fan favorite in the series.

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Before joining the Peaky Blinders cast, Neill was already a legendary actor and was known for films like The Hunt for Red October (1990), Jurassic Park (1993) and The Piano (1993), among others.

Since concluding his role on the show, Neill has starred in numerous films, spanning everything from the indie hit Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) to a role in the Thor franchise. He even returned to Jurassic Park for 2022's Jurassic World Dominion.

In 2023, Neill said he had undergone treatment for lymphoma, was in remission and would continue acting. He then starred in Peacock's Apples Never Fall, alongside Annette Bening.

In his personal life, Neill was married to Noriko Watanabe from 1989 to 2017.

Helen McCrory as Elizabeth "Polly" Gray

BBC Helen McCrory as Elizabeth “Polly” Pollyanna in 'Peaky Blinders'
BBC Helen McCrory as Elizabeth “Polly” Pollyanna in 'Peaky Blinders'

The late actress Helen McCrory portrayed Aunt Polly, the matriarch of the Shelby family and the unofficial manager of the Peaky Blinders gang.

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Before scoring her career-defining role in Peaky Blinders, McCrory had starred in The Queen (2006) and appeared in three Harry Potter films as Narcissa Malfoy, Draco's mother. During Peaky Blinders' run, she also had recurring roles in Showtime's Penny Dreadful (2014) and HBO's His Dark Materials (2019-2020).

In 2021, at the age of 52, McCrory died of breast cancer. Shortly after her death, McCrory's former costars offered their condolences and remembered the actress fondly.

In a statement obtained by Metro, her Harry Potter costar Daniel Radcliffe said, "Helen was one of the most incredible actors I got to work with on the Harry Potter films. She was effortlessly commanding and captivating as an actor, as well as being kind, generous and incredibly good fun as a person."

McCrory was survived by her husband, Damian Lewis, and their two children Manon and Gulliver.

Sophie Rundle as Ada Thorne

Matt Squire / ©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Sophie Rundle as Ada Thorne in 'Peaky Blinders'
Matt Squire / ?Netflix / Courtesy Everett Sophie Rundle as Ada Thorne in 'Peaky Blinders'

Sophie Rundle played Ada Thorne, Tommy's younger sister who falls in love with Freddie Thorne, a member of the British communist movement. The actress is confirmed to return to play Ada in the Peaky Blinders movie.

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Her first major performance before joining Peaky Blinders was in the Matt LeBlanc series Episodes (2012-2014), in which Rundle played a stalker obsessed with LeBlanc's character. During Peaky Blinders' run, Rundle also starred in various other series, including Dickensian (2015-2016), Jamestown (2017-2019) and Gentleman Jack (2019-2022).

While filming Jamestown, Rundle began dating her costar, Matt Stokoe. The couple are currently engaged and have two sons, the first born in 2021 and the second welcomed in 2024. Rundle and Stokoe also costarred again in the British TV series After the Flood.

Tom Hardy as Alfie Solomons

BBC Tom Hardy as Alfie Solomons in 'Peaky Blinders'
BBC Tom Hardy as Alfie Solomons in 'Peaky Blinders'

Tom Hardy portrayed Alfie Solomons, the leader of a Jewish gang that eventually forms an allegiance with Tommy and the Peaky Blinders.

Before starring in the show, Hardy was already landing massive roles in movies like Inception (2010) and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), but he was best known for portraying Bane in The Dark Knight Rises (2012).

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While filming Peaky Blinders, Hardy's fame continued to grow. In 2015, he starred in Mad Max: Fury Road and The Revenant alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, which landed him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He also starred in Venom (2018), its 2021 sequel Venom: Let There Be Carnage and completed the trilogy in 2024 with Venom: The Last Dance.

Related: Who Is Tom Hardy's Wife? All About Actress Charlotte Riley

Off-screen, Hardy has an interest in martial arts and practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In 2022, he won multiple competitions, one of which helped raise money for charity. He has also been married to his wife, actress Charlotte Riley, since 2014. The couple have two children together.

Paul Anderson as Arthur Shelby Jr.

BBC Paul Anderson as Arthur Shelby Jr. in 'Peaky Blinders'
BBC Paul Anderson as Arthur Shelby Jr. in 'Peaky Blinders'

Paul Anderson played Arthur Shelby Jr., Tommy's older brother, and his right-hand man. Arthur was one of the most prominent members of the Peaky Blinders gang.

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Before landing his role in Peaky Blinders, Anderson had a few roles in small British films. During Peaky Blinders' run, Anderson also appeared in movies like The Revenant (2015), Hostiles (2017) and Robin Hood (2018). In 2024, he appeared in the heist film Lift alongside Kevin Hart and Sam Worthington.

Ned Dennehy as Charlie Strong

BBC Ned Dennehy as Charlie Strong in 'Peaky Blinders'
BBC Ned Dennehy as Charlie Strong in 'Peaky Blinders'

Ned Dennehy played Charlie Strong, an uncle figure for the Shelby siblings and a member of the Peaky Blinders gang who helped Tommy with sending shipments and stabling his horses. The actor will return to play Charlie in the Peaky Blinders movie.

Starring in the crime drama was the first major role of Dennehy's career, though he did have a few minor parts in movies like Reign of Fire (2002) and King Arthur (2004) beforehand. Dennehy went on to appear in the Nicolas Cage-led horror movie Mandy (2018) and had a major role in the first season of the Amazon Prime series Good Omens (2019).

In 2024, he starred in The Thicket alongside Peter Dinklage and Juliette Lewis.

Joe Cole as John Shelby

BBC Joe Cole and John Shelby in 'Peaky Blinders'
BBC Joe Cole and John Shelby in 'Peaky Blinders'

Joe Cole plays John Shelby, Tommy's younger brother. Once a prominent member of the Peaky Blinders gang, John is killed in season 4 after receiving the black hand.

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Portraying John in Peaky Blinders was Joe's first major role, though he did have some recurring parts in popular British series like Come Fly with Me (2011) and Skins (2012) beforehand.

Now, Joe is starring in another British crime series, Gangs of London, in which he plays Sean Wallace, a young man who takes over his family's criminal enterprise after the death of his father. The series premiered in 2020 and is currently in production for season 3.

Joe's most recent big project was the National Geographic and Disney+ miniseries, A Small Light, which tells the story of how the Frank family was hidden from the Nazis by Jan and Miep Gies.

Finn Cole as Michael Gray

Matt Squire / ©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Finn Cole as Michael Gray in 'Peaky Blinders'
Matt Squire / ?Netflix / Courtesy Everett Finn Cole as Michael Gray in 'Peaky Blinders'

Introduced in season 2, Finn Cole played Michael Gray, the estranged son of Aunt Polly. Tommy and the Peaky Blinders arrange for him to visit Polly and end up recruiting him to join the gang.

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Portraying Michael was Finn's first major role, and shortly after signing on for Peaky Blinders, he was also cast in another crime series, Animal Kingdom. The show premiered in 2016 and ran for six seasons, concluding in August 2022, just a few months after Peaky Blinders had its series finale.

In real life, Finn is the younger brother of his Peaky Blinders costar, Joe Cole, and during season 6, the brothers were also on competing shows airing on the same night and time, with Finn still on Peaky Blinders and Joe starring in the miniseries The Ipcress File.

In 2023, Finn starred alongside Famke Janssen and Anna Friel in the Netflix psychological thriller Locked In, about an affair that turns murderous.

Annabelle Wallis as Grace Shelby

BBC Annabelle Wallis as Grace Shelby in 'Peaky Blinders'
BBC Annabelle Wallis as Grace Shelby in 'Peaky Blinders'

Annabelle Wallis played Grace Shelby. She was originally an undercover officer assisting Inspector Campbell but ended up falling in love with Tommy and marrying him. The two have a son together, Charles. In retaliation for one of Tommy's crimes, she gets killed at the beginning of season 3.

Before her role in Peaky Blinders, Wallis was best known for starring in series like The Tudors (2009-2010) and Pan Am (2011). She also appeared in the blockbuster Marvel film X-Men: First Class (2011).

During her time on the show, Wallis also starred in movies like the reboot of The Mummy (2017) starring Tom Cruise, and Tag (2018). After her role on Peaky Blinders concluded, she went on to voice Zora, the USS Discovery's new AI identity in Star Trek: Discovery (2020-2024).

Related: Sebastian Stan and Annabelle Wallis' Relationship Timeline

Next up, she'll star in The Silence of Mercy, an indie drama about mortality directed by Floria Sigismondi, who is famous for directing music videos like "Unholy" by Sam Smith and "Sledgehammer" by Rihanna.

In her personal life, Wallis has been romantically linked to Sebastian Stan since 2022. The pair attended the premiere of his movie The Apprentice in May 2024.

Natasha O'Keeffe as Lizzie Shelby

BBC Natasha O'Keeffe as Lizzie Shelby in 'Peaky Blinders'
BBC Natasha O'Keeffe as Lizzie Shelby in 'Peaky Blinders'

Natasha O'Keeffe plays Lizzie Shelby. Originally a prostitute, Lizzie ends up working as a secretary for the Peaky Blinders and marrying Tommy, becoming part of the Shelby family. The two have a daughter together, Ruby.

Before joining the Peaky Blinders gang, O'Keeffe held roles in British series like Lip Service (2010-2012) and Misfits (2012-2013). In 2024, she appeared in Tyger, written by her husband Dylan Edwards.

Anya Taylor-Joy as Gina Gray

BBC Anya Taylor-Joy as Gina Gray in' Peaky Blinders'
BBC Anya Taylor-Joy as Gina Gray in' Peaky Blinders'

Joining the cast in season 5, Anya Taylor-Joy played Gina Gray, the scheming wife of Michael Gray who constantly tried to manipulate him into gaining more power and influence.

Before joining the cast in 2019, Taylor-Joy had appeared in movies like The Witch (2015) and M. Night Shyamalan's Split (2016), but her career didn't really take off until 2020 when she starred in a film adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma and the Netflix miniseries The Queen's Gambit, which landed her an Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe win.

Related: Who Is Anya Taylor-Joy's Husband? All About Malcolm McRae

Since the finale of Peaky Blinders, Taylor-Joy has remained busy, starring in movies like The Menu (2022) and The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023). In 2024, she starred as the titular character in the Mad Max prequel Furiosa alongside Chris Hemsworth, the character made famous by Charlize Theron in 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road.

Off-screen, Taylor-Joy married musician Malcolm McRae in 2022.

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