Peaky Blinders: What does Tommy Shelby's chest tattoo mean? Possibilities explored

Steven Knight's gangster crime series Peaky Blinders was a changing moment in pop culture. Fans of the show went crazy after Tommy Shelby's (Cillian Murphy) hairstyle and fine clothing, seeing a frenzy of tattoos and body art inspired by the show and Murphy's lead character.

Among an array of tattoos dedicated to Tommy Shelby, one stands out from the crowd: the rising sunrays ink, worn by Murphy's character himself in the show. Tommy Shelby is the lead character of Peaky Blinders and the ruthless gang leader of his titular criminal group in Birmingham.

Tommy sports a black ink of rising sunrays on the left side of his chest, which has long intrigued Peaky Blinders fans, becoming one of the character’s most quietly compelling mysteries. Unlike his iconic razor-lined cap or war-hardened stare, this ink is rarely addressed in the series, leaving viewers to interpret its meaning on their own.

Tommy's chest tattoo holds many different meanings, from his conflicting and changing ideals on religion and faith to a silent nod to his Romani heritage.

Here are the possible meanings behind Tommy's tattoo.

The hidden meanings behind Tommy Shelby's chest tattoo in Peaky Blinders

Fictional characters are often given special tattoos that eventually become a part of their costume and carry special meanings in their ink. One such tattoo is Tommy Shelby's chest ink, visible on actor Cillian Murphy in many scenes. For a silent man like Tommy, his tattoo holds a special meaning, visually suggesting the character's ideals and beliefs. While the show never explicitly confirmed the meaning behind his chest tattoo, we have some possible theories.

Many have linked Tommy's tattoo in Peaky Blinders to a version of the popular religious tattoo that usually has a figure of Jesus Christ or a Celtic cross surrounded by sunrays. However, Tommy's ink is sans the Jesus figure in the middle, which highlights his nihilistic ideals and views on religion and faith. The absence of a religious figure in the tattoo also symbolizes Tommy's stoic and independent view of the world, after seeing its horrors in WW1.

As Grace discovered from Aunt Polly in Peaky Blinders, Tommy was a different man before the war. However, like all men, his time in France changed him and he returned with a different and nihilistic view of the world. The sun rays, inked close to his heart, are a silent reminder of this changed faith.

A Reddit fan links Tommy's tattoo to the Roma chakra, which seems like a possible theory. Despite being a cold and calculating gangster, Tommy Shelby honoured his Romani (Irish-Romani Gypsy) heritage, evident in his many consultations with Aunt Polly and his general dread of gypsy curses. Since the Romani heritage believed in free living and not being bound to one place, the tattoo highlights Tommy's independent thinking and his desire to live a free life.

While Tommy desperately tried to free himself from his old ways throughout Peaky Blinders, he succumbed to them each time. However, the series finale offers some peace for the character, where he drives off into the sunset on his horse, after being assumed dead by his family and the world. The sun rays then become a silent bearer of his Romani heritage, literally carried in his heart and body.

Does Tommy Shelby have other tattoos in Peaky Blinders?

In addition to this frequently seen chest tattoo, Tommy Shelby has three other (known) tattoos in Peaky Blinders.

The Birmingham gang leader has the word 'Forrard' tattooed on his right bicep, which likely means 'Forward', a military command. The tattoo honours Tommy Shelby's time in the military, suggesting that he continued to move forward in life even when the situation was not in his favour.

Another tattoo on his left bicep features a rose and a horseshoe, which marks a major win for the character as it was inked after Tommy's acquisition of a betting license.

Lastly, the most emotional ink on Tommy Shelby's body is tucked away on the inner side of his left bicep, which bears the words T G C, standing for Tommy, Grace and Charlie. This tattoo is self-explanatory as it symbolizes Tommy's love for his family, especially for his wife, Grace, who was killed in Peaky Blinders Season 3.

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