Barry Keoghan drew on his father’s absence for Peaky Blinders spin-off role

Irish actor Barry Keoghan has revealed he drew upon his own complex relationship with his father to portray his character in the upcoming film, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. The Dublin-born star, 33, has often spoken candidly about his challenging childhood, which saw him and his brother placed in separate foster homes after their mother battled and ultimately succumbed to drug addiction. Keoghan takes on the role of Erasmus "Duke" Shelby, the illegitimate son abandoned by the notorious Tommy Shelby, in the Netflix spin-off from the acclaimed TV series that concluded in 2022. Speaking at a press conference, Keoghan explained that the "absent" dynamic between Duke and his on-screen father resonated deeply with his personal experiences. "It’s a real thing, stepping into play Tommy Shelby’s son. Being a big fan of the show and big fan of Cillian, I wanted to be part of it and get my teeth into it," he stated.

The film sees Tommy (Cillian Murphy) return from self-imposed exile amidst the turmoil of the Second World War, only to discover Duke at the helm of the violent Peaky Blinders crime gang. Keoghan elaborated on his approach: "At the end of the day, there’s an animalistic thing of the cub looking for its dad. That’s what I brought it back to when (Tommy". The movie framing centers on Duke’s leadership during a chaotic post-war era, promising a stark portrayal of vulnerability and aggression in equal measure. Keoghan emphasized that the reactions we see in Duke stem from cries for help rather than excuses for violence, aiming to humanise a character at the center of a notorious gang. Fans of the series will also be watching for how Duke’s absence shapes his choices as he navigates power, loyalty, and family ties.

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