Barry Keoghan Discusses Joining Peaky Blinders and Returning to Acting

Barry Keoghan Discusses Joining Peaky Blinders and Returning to Acting

Barry Keoghan is gearing up to join the Peaky Blinders franchise, and he’s feeling a mix of excitement and nerves about stepping into this iconic world.

At the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, Keoghan shared his enthusiasm with Entertainment Weekly. “Yes, yes, yes — I can’t wait for that,” he said. “I’m a massive fan of the show, and Cillian [Murphy] is a good friend and an actor I deeply admire. I’m really looking forward to diving into it and getting back into my process. It’s been a while since I’ve done this, so I’m both excited and nervous.”

Murphy’s popular character, Tommy Shelby, will return in a new Netflix film created by the show’s original creator, Steven Knight. Keoghan’s role in the film has been kept under wraps, adding to the anticipation. The actor, who is also promoting his films Bird and Bring Them Down at TIFF, admitted that his nervousness stems from returning to acting after a break.

“I’m just shaking off all the cobwebs,” Keoghan explained. “Being on set after some time away feels a bit rusty. I’ve been doing a lot of promotion and taking it easy, which can make you anxious when you have too much free time. But I think it’s essential for growth as an actor and as a person. Now, I’m excited to get back into the creative process.”

Keoghan also joked about the challenges of embracing the period setting of Peaky Blinders. “They had no phones back then, so I’ll be off my phone,” he laughed. “I’ll have to write letters.”

Peaky Blinders first premiered on BBC Two before moving to BBC One for its fifth season in 2018. The series, which aired from 2013 to 2022, gained significant popularity after its transition to Netflix. The show, spanning six seasons, follows the gangster Tommy Shelby and his Peaky Blinders crew.

Barry Keoghan Discusses Joining Peaky Blinders and Returning to Acting

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