5 times Cillian Murphy proved that his Peaky Blinders role was already a legacy (way before the show ended)

Cillian Murphy's portrayal of a ruthless gang leader has become synonymous with the crime series Peaky Blinders. His portrayal of Tommy Shelby brings out all the nuances of the character and is the best anti-hero in recent television.

While Cillian Murphy has always been a versatile actor, having won a BAFTA and Golden Globe Award for his performance in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, his Peaky Blinders role elevated his career to new heights.

While Murphy was perfect as Tommy in every scene, some moments just prove he created history and legacy with his performance.

5 times Cillian Murphy proved that his Peaky Blinders role was already a legacy.

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5 times Cillian Murphy nailed his Tommy Shelby role in Peaky Blinders

1) When Tommy Shelby almost died in the Peaky Blinders Season 2 finale

Being the leader of a Birmingham gang, Tommy Shelby knew he was a man living on borrowed time. His enmity with Major Campbell results in a near-death experience, where Campbell's men take him to a deserted location and try to bury him.

Tommy Shelby realises that his end is near, and he lights a cigarette and regrets the kind of life he has led so far, especially his budding (but doomed) romance with Grace. Murphy's portrayal of a regretful man, standing moments away from his death, is spot on as he says:

''Go so f*cking close. Oh and there's a woman...who I love and got close. Nearly got f*cking everything.''

Murphy's acting of an angry and regretful gangster makes this one of the most iconic scenes from the show.

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2) When Tommy Shelby shot Billy Kimber in the Peaky Blinders Season 1 finale

There was something about the series' finales that proved why Tommy Shelby is the leader of the gang. Another memorable scene that cements Cillian Murphy's legacy as an actor is when Tommy confronted Billy Kimber and the Birmingham Boys in the Season 1 finale.

After Billy mercilessly shoots Danny Whizz-bang, Tommy takes one fatal shot at him and kills him in cold blood. The anticipation of a full-blown war is diffused just like that, and Murphy proves why he is the best at what he does.

When Billy shoots Danny, Tommy goes into shock for a moment, and Cillian Murphy's commendable transformation from a shell-shocked soldier to a badass leader never ceases to amaze his fans.

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3) Tommy Shelby's confrontation with Alfie Solomons

Cillian Murphy's Tommy confronting Alfie Solomons (Tom Hardy) in Peaky Blinders Season 3 Episode 6 can easily be an acting masterclass. Murphy brilliantly captured all the nuances of his characters and portrayed every emotion in a 6-minute scene.

His partnership with Hardy is powerful on-screen, and their scenes together are a treat for fans. In the sequence, Tommy calls out Alfie for jeopardising his son's safety and accuses him of 'crossing the line'. But Alfie is quick to make Tommy realise his hypocrisy as he has regularly killed many innocent sons and their fathers.

Murphy's portrayal of anger, betrayal, frustration, and then regret makes this scene iconic.

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4) Tommy Shelby's final confrontation in the Peaky Blinders finale

While Peaky Blinders Season 6 saw the rise of a different Tommy Shelby, paranoid about his impending death, the final scene stands out. After dealing with his tuberculoma diagnosis for months, Tommy realizes that his doctor is an ally of Oswald Mosley and that his diagnosis was fake.

He confronts his doctor at his house in one of the most memorable scenes from the show, further elevated by Cillian Murphy's performance. A man on the verge of death gets a new lease on life, and he quietly rides away on his white horse, after sparing the doctor's life, an evidence of his character's growth.

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5) When Tommy Shelby tells off the Peaky Blinders at his wedding

While Tommy Shelby had gone to war for his family on multiple occasions, Grace also earned a special place in his life. While the couple had their ups and downs, they finally got married in the Season 3 premiere.

Since Grace's family consisted of the British army, Tommy knew that they would not sit right with his family. He tells off the gang and warns them not to fight with Grace's family during the ceremony. While the scene is equally hilarious, Cillian Murphy again commands the room with his presence.

He aggressively pushes a waiter after warning his brothers, highlighting that his rules don't apply to him. Another brilliant spectacle by the talented actor.

With all these iconic performances, we can't wait to see Cillian Murphy shine again as Tommy Shelby in The Immortal Man.

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Also Read: Not Cillian Murphy, but this actor was the first choice to play Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders