Who are the Peaky Blinders cast? Since 2013, we’ve seen the criminal empire of the now-notorious Shelby family go from strength to strength. Set in 1900s Birmingham, the historical show, centered around the criminal gang the Peaky Blinders, has cemented itself in the public consciousness as one of the most captivating series in recent history.
Peaky Blinders picked up an array of accolades — being recognized at the prestigious BAFTAs and National Television Awards, among others — and is considered among both critics and viewers to be one of the best TV series of all time. From the drama to the bloodshed and the suave-looking flat-caps, Peaky Blinders has amassed a huge fanbase over the years: one so formidable that showrunner Steven Knight has announced plans for a Peaky Blinders movie with the same cast.
But without the Peaky Blinders cast and the way they brought their respective characters to life, the thriller series would be nothing. So, here’s the low-down on all the main players haunting 1900s Birmingham and beyond by order of the Peaky Blinders.
Who is in the Peaky Blinders cast?
- Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby
- Paul Anderson as Arthur Shelby
- Sophie Rundle as Ada Shelby
- Helen McCrory as Polly Gray
- Finn Cole as Michael Gray
- Anya Taylor-Joy as Gina Gray
- Thomas Hardy as Alfie Solomons
- Harry Kirton as Finn Shelby
Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby
Cillian Murphy, who was born and raised in Cork, Ireland, is indisputably the heart of Peaky Blinders. After breaking big in the acting world with the 2003 horror movie 28 Days Later, Murphy went on to give an unforgettable performance as Tommy Shelby, the haunted head of the Birmingham crime family.
His nuanced portrayal of Shelby in the thriller series has led to him being flooded with praise — especially following the finale of the show — and he’s now cemented himself as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors, appearing in movies like Dunkirk and Don’t Look Up II. Most recently, he was cast in the upcoming Christopher Nolan movie, Oppenheimer.
Paul Anderson as Arthur Shelby
Although Paul Anderson is mostly known for portraying grizzled, unpredictable older brother Arthur Shelby, he’s also a regular on both the big and small screen.
From Top Boy to The Revenant, Anderson has definitely had a diverse career both before and during his big break as Arthur Shelby, most recently appearing alongside Bradley Cooper in Nightmare Alley.
Sophie Rundle as Ada Shelby
Ada Shelby tries to keep out of the dodgy dealings of the rest of her family but isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty when necessary. A regular on the small screen, Rundle has appeared in several TV series, including the period drama Gentleman Jack, the thriller series Bodyguard, the historical drama The Bletchley Circle, and the Sky crime drama Talking to the Dead.
If you studied GCSE English in the UK, you might also recognize her as Eva Smith — the main character in a televised version of the play An Inspector Calls.
Helen McCrory as Polly Gray
A stage and screen legend, Helen McCrory OBE stole the show as Polly Gray across five seasons of Peaky Blinders. She, unfortunately, passed away from breast cancer before the final season, but was given a fitting and moving tribute on-screen.
As the mother of Draco Malfoy, McCrory also had a major role in the last three Harry Potter movies, and appeared in blockbusters like Hugo and Skyfall.
Finn Cole as Michael Gray
As Michael Gray, Finn Cole portrayed a character whose ambition, betrayal of the Shelbys, and cold-blooded nature ended up being his own downfall.
By the end of the series, he was one of the most prominent characters in the show. He’s currently playing a leading role in the TNT series Animal Kingdom and appeared in the Fast and Furious movie F9.
Anya Taylor-Joy as Gina Gray
If you don’t know who Anya Taylor-Joy is by now, we’re going to assume that you have lived under a rock for the past few years.
As well as playing the scheming Gina Gray, the wife of Michael in Peaky Blinders, she was also known by audiences for her debut in the A24 movie The Witch and her breakout role as Casey Cooke in the M. Night Shyamalan movie Split, as well as its follow-up Glass.
But she really catapulted to stardom in 2020 after playing troubled chess prodigy Beth Harmon in the Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit. Her most recent roles include Princess Peach in the Super Mario Bros movie and Amsterdam.
Tom Hardy as Alfie Solomons
Again, if you don’t know who Tom Hardy is, you need to leave that rock you’re under and touch some grass pronto.
His character, Alfie Solomons, isn’t in many episodes of the series, but his electrifying on-screen chemistry with Murphy, combined with Solomon’s unpredictability and one-liners, makes him one of the most iconic and popular characters to come out of Peaky Blinders.
As for Hardy himself, he’s been in everything, including action movies Venom, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, and Mad Max: Fury Road.
Harry Kirton as Finn Shelby
24-year-old Harry Kirton is fairly new to the acting scene — but in his role as the young and naïve Finn Shelby, he’s shown himself to be more than capable in scenes alongside veterans in the business.
Tommy tries to shield Finn from a lot of the wrongdoings surrounding the Shelbys, but this ultimately proves impossible.
All six seasons of Peaky Blinders are available to stream on BBC iPlayer in the UK or Netflix in the US. If you’ve already finished Peaky Blinders, then check out our new on Netflix guide to find your next TV obsession.
For more drama, check out our guides to the Fargo season 5 release date and the Wednesday season 2 release date. If you fancy something a little more action-packed, you need to read our breakdown of the Reacher season 2 release date.
If you prefer your entertainment a bit more long-form can have a look at our list of the best movies of all time, and here are all the new movies heading our way in 2023.