Peaky Blinders series 3: Cillian Murphy admits Tommy Shelby is ‘exhausting to play’
AHEAD of the new series of Peaky Blinders, lead star Cillian Murphy has admitted that his lead character Tommy Shelby’s very nature is “exhausting” to perform.
Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby
Speaking to press including Express.co.uk, the 39-year-old said the sheer amount of difference between himself and his fictional alter-ego on the BBC hit is very rewarding - but takes its toll.
“The nature of the character is immersive,” he said.
“I quite enjoy those types of characters; the ones you travel a distance from yourself to get to. It’s an incredible exhausting character to play.
“He never seems to sleep or eat! He’s always on, there’s always something happening, he’s so resourceful and dynamic and clever - all the things I wish I was.”
The show finally returns next week
Helen McCrory also stars
The nature of the character is immersive
He added: “You have to cancel reality for four months [when filming]. It’s the nature of it.”
He also revealed that he asked someone to keep track of how many cigarettes he got through while filming all three seasons - and the total figure is astounding.
“People did [smoke a lot], they smoked all day,” he explained. “It just became a thing, really, like his crutch.
“I don’t smoke myself, there are these herbal rolls… They must be doing something good!
Peaky Blinders- Series 3 Teaser Trailer
What will happen to the family this season?
“I think it’s something like 3000 [smoked]. But sometimes I put them out!”
Peaky Blinders has been a critical and commercial success for BBC Two, regularly appealing to nearly 3 million viewers throughout its first two years.
The drama returns on Thursday, May 5 at 9pm.