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Cillian Murphy recently reflected on the signature slicked-back look that defined his ‘Peaky Blinders’ character, Tommy Shelby. The 49-year-old Irish actor is fresh off promoting the film ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’. While the undercut has sparked global trends, Murphy made it clear he is ready to move on from it.
Premiere confession
He shared candid thoughts at the New York premiere. Red carpet chatter turned to the viral hairstyle conversation during the event. When asked if he misses the Tommy Shelby cut, Murphy gave a blunt one-word answer: “No.” He quickly softened it with gratitude. “It’s really humbling that it’s become such a phenomenon and that people all over the world, you know, in Buenos Aires, Turkey, Mexico, and everywhere watch this show. It’s amazing,” he added. The ‘Peaky Blinders movie’, released on Netflix, brings back the gangster saga set in 1940 with Murphy as a 50-year-old Tommy alongside Barry Keoghan, Tim Roth, and Rebecca Ferguson. Fans noticed the familiar undercut, fueling barber shop requests across the UK.
Earlier revelations
Cillian Murphy has disliked the style from the start. On The Graham Norton Show in October 2025, he called it “disgusting really” and explained its gritty origin, “You know the story behind that is it’s to prevent lice infestation.” He confirmed the film wrapped that year, teasing a 2026 drop. In another statement, he admitted contractual binds. “I was alarmed by the haircut, but I’m contractually obliged to have it. I’ve gotten more tolerant of it over the years. And it’s become a desirable cut amongst the fashionistas, which is bizarre to me.”“The textured crop with short back and sides draws from 1890s hooligan “sloggers” and post-WWI trench styles, per experts”, he said Murphy balances privacy with stardom, from Oppenheimer’s Oscar win to this gangster return. His honest quips humanize the myth, showing even legends tire of trends. The haircut lives on, but Tommy’s essence endures.
