Peaky Blinders’ Secret Filming Rules: The 3 Demands Every Actor Had to Follow!

As Peaky Blinders approaches the release of its highly anticipated sixth and final season, it’s hard to believe that the series has been captivating audiences since 2013. Set against the gritty backdrop of 1920s Birmingham, the show has not only drawn viewers in with its compelling characters and historical drama but also with the authenticity that the cast and crew strived for. Filming a period drama requires dedication, and the cast of Peaky Blinders adhered to three important rules to maintain the integrity of their roles.

1. Perfecting the Birmingham Accent

One of the key aspects of Peaky Blinders is its depiction of the tough and distinct Birmingham accent. The show’s creator, Steven Knight, revealed in an interview with the BBC that the Brummie accent is notoriously difficult to master. This is a challenge many production companies often shy away from, opting for alternative locations rather than filming in Birmingham itself. For the cast, however, perfecting the accent was non-negotiable.

The result? Cast members had to undergo intense training to ensure their accents were convincing. While the response to the accents has been mixed, with some fans appreciating the subtlety of the performances—such as Cillian Murphy’s “slight” Brummie accent—others have pointed out that the accents were softened for a broader, international audience. As noted by a user on Quora, “I’m one of those people who recognize there are such things as a broad/strong/thick accent and a slight/soft accent. Cillian Murphy does an excellent slight Brummie accent.” Despite this compromise, the commitment to the accents was undeniable, and Eleanor Tomlinson even lost out on a role for not being able to nail it during auditions.

2. Embracing Method Acting

For many actors, stepping into the shoes of a character means diving deep into their mindset and fully embracing their role. This approach is often referred to as method acting. When Alexander Siddig, who played Ruben Oliver in season 3, joined the cast, he quickly realized the intense level of commitment that the Peaky Blinders cast members brought to their work.

“It is not fun. It’s full-on,” Siddig shared with NME. “There are people kicking off left, right, and center. The Peaky Blinders lot are a group of method actors.” Indeed, method acting involves staying in character even between scenes, and the Peaky Blinders cast took it to the next level. As Cillian Murphy explained, his approach to filming was all about focus: “In terms of life when we’re filming: I don’t socialize, I just go home, learn the lines, go to bed.”

This dedication helped create the intense, often brooding atmosphere that defines the show, where the actors aren’t just playing their characters—they’re living them for the duration of the shoot.

3. Sporting Authentic 1920s Haircuts

Given that Peaky Blinders is set in the post-World War I era, it was essential that the cast looked the part. The iconic undercut hairstyle, often associated with the show, became a defining feature of the male characters. This hairstyle was not merely a fashion choice but a reflection of the time period. As Steven Knight explained, the shaved heads of soldiers during WWI were a practical response to lice, which made the undercut a fitting choice for the characters.

Though initially hesitant about the drastic haircuts, the cast quickly grew to embrace their new looks. Murphy, who plays Tommy Shelby, admitted that he wasn’t sure about the style at first, but eventually came to love it. “It was a gradual shaving off of the hair, all of us boys with our vain approach to hair,” he joked in an interview. Paul Anderson, who plays Arthur Shelby, shared a similar sentiment: “I looked in the mirror, and I just thought, ‘I don’t know.’ I mean, I really wasn’t sure about the look… but now I love it.”

This dedication to the period style was not limited to the main cast. Extras were also required to adhere strictly to period-appropriate grooming, with male extras instructed to avoid modern facial hair, beards, or hairstyles. Female extras were also given clear guidelines, with restrictions on hair color and length to ensure they stayed true to the 1920s aesthetic.

Conclusion

As Peaky Blinders comes to a close, it’s clear that the cast’s dedication to their roles and the historical authenticity of the series played a significant role in its success. From perfecting the elusive Brummie accent to committing to method acting and sporting period-appropriate hairstyles, the cast of Peaky Blinders adhered to strict rules to ensure their performances were as immersive as possible. This dedication not only brought the world of Peaky Blinders to life but also cemented the show as one of the most memorable period dramas in television history.