Barry Keoghan Stars as Duke Shelby in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man

Barry Keoghan Takes on a Dream Role

Barry Keoghan stars as Duke Shelby in the highly anticipated film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, a role he has long sought after. Keoghan secured this opportunity in a unique way, sending a Father’s Day text to Cillian Murphy, who plays the lead character, Tommy Shelby.

In his own words, Keoghan recounted, “I text him and said, ‘Happy Father’s Day’ and he got back and was like, ‘Do you want to play my son in the Peaky Blinders movie?’” This serendipitous exchange marked a significant moment in Keoghan’s career, as he has been trying to get a role in the Peaky Blinders franchise for years.

Emotional Connections and Performances

Keoghan’s portrayal of Duke Shelby resonates deeply with him, as he relates to the character’s story of having an absent father. He expressed, “It was such an emotional piece, being a dad myself and then having a father who was absent, I can entirely relate to that.” This personal connection adds depth to his performance.

In addition to his work in Peaky Blinders, Keoghan was recently moved to tears by Jessie Buckley’s performance in the film Hamnet, which has garnered multiple Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. He described Hamnet as a “beautiful film,” highlighting the emotional weight of the story.

Behind the Scenes

While filming Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, Keoghan often engaged in playing video games between scenes, a light-hearted way to cope with the intensity of the production. He also added gemstones to his costume to give it a youthful and bold appearance, stating, “I wanted to look like I was trying to be Tommy Shelby.”

As the film is currently in selected cinemas and set to be available on Netflix from March 20, audiences are eager to see how Keoghan’s performance will be received. His role in The Banshees of Inisherin earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination in 2023, further establishing him as a rising star in the film industry.

Details remain unconfirmed regarding the future projects Keoghan may undertake after this film, but his trajectory in Hollywood continues to gain momentum.