Behind-the-Scenes with Paul Anderson: What He’ll Never Forget About Working with Cillian Murphy on Peaky Blinders

When Peaky Blinders first exploded onto television screens in 2013, few could have predicted the cultural phenomenon it would become — and at the heart of its gritty drama were two brothers, Arthur and Thomas Shelby, played by Paul Anderson and Cillian Murphy. Over the course of six intense seasons, the two actors not only built a believable on-screen brotherhood but also developed a real bond behind the scenes that Anderson now looks back on with deep appreciation.

In various interviews, Anderson has often spoken about the collaborative spirit that defined his relationship with Murphy. Particularly during the fourth season, the two would frequently sit together, dissecting scenes and ensuring their performances carried the layered tension and loyalty that defined the Shelby brothers. “Some of the stuff is fun and we don’t really need to talk much, we have a kind of understanding, me and Cillian,” Anderson shared in a 2017 interview with Den of Geek, pointing to an effortless connection that developed over years of working side by side.

Interestingly, that connection started even before the cameras rolled. Anderson originally auditioned for the role of Tommy Shelby — the part that ultimately went to Murphy. “I met Otto [Bathurst, series one director] for Cillian’s role… I had a really good meeting and then they offered it to Cillian,” Anderson recalled. Instead, he was offered the role of Arthur, a decision that shaped both his career and his close working relationship with Murphy. Sharing that early history gave their bond an extra layer of camaraderie that informed their performances throughout the series.

Beyond technical collaboration, Anderson brought real-life emotional weight to Arthur, inspired by his own relationship with his older brother. In a 2023 interview with The Chap, he described how the longevity of Peaky Blinders allowed him and Murphy to live in their characters, building emotional authenticity that sometimes bled into reality. “I’ve never played a character for this long, and neither has Cillian, so the back story is already there for all of us,” he reflected. The emotional resonance between Arthur and Tommy wasn’t just acting — it was a lived experience over nearly a decade of shared storytelling.

The intensity of their roles also contributed to unforgettable on-set moments. As the tortured, volatile Arthur and the calculating, often tormented Tommy, Anderson and Murphy navigated some of the most harrowing and electric scenes in television. In later interviews, Anderson emphasized how high the stakes were, with celebrity fans like Brad Pitt and Steven Spielberg taking notice of the show’s visceral power. Every scene demanded complete immersion — and it was in those moments, often unspoken but deeply felt, that Anderson found the memories he treasures most: two actors, sharing the weight of their characters, trusting each other completely to bring the Shelby family to life.

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