The Tragic Fate of Ruby Shelby in Peaky Blinders
Peaky Blinders enthusiasts have been captivated by the storyline surrounding Tommy Shelby's daughter, Ruby, especially with the release of the Netflix film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. This cinematic addition has sparked numerous inquiries from viewers worldwide, including questions about character recasting and plot intricacies. Among the most poignant queries is the fate of Ruby Shelby, portrayed by Heaven-Leigh Clee, whose story unfolds in a deeply emotional arc.
How Did Ruby Shelby Die in Peaky Blinders?
Warning: This article contains spoilers from the Peaky Blinders television series. Ruby Shelby was the daughter of Tommy Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy, and his second wife Lizzie Shelby, portrayed by Natasha O'Keeffe. Her death is a central tragedy in the series, stemming from consumption, commonly known as tuberculosis, a severe lung disease. At just seven years old, Ruby succumbed to this illness, with the events leading to her demise extensively covered in Peaky Blinders season six.
Tommy believed that Ruby's death was linked to a cursed sapphire necklace. This necklace originally belonged to his first wife, Grace Shelby, played by Annabell Wallis, who was assassinated by the Sicilian mafia and the Changretta family. Tommy gave the sapphire away, setting off a chain of misfortunes. The gem was passed to Romani woman Bethany Barwell, enacted by Frances Tomelty, who then gave it to her sister Evadne Barwell, portrayed by Gwynne McElveen.
The Curse and Its Devastating Consequences
Evadne placed the sapphire around her own daughter Connie's neck, and tragically, Connie died the following day, as detailed on the Peaky Blinders fandom site. In her grief, Evadne cursed Tommy for introducing the cursed sapphire into their lives. Ruby began experiencing visions of a grey man and fell ill shortly after, with Tommy desperately attempting to rectify the situation. He sought out Esme Shelby, played by Aimee-Ffion Edwards, and Evadne, hoping to offer gold to lift the curse, but his efforts were in vain.
Upon returning to the hospital, Tommy discovered that Ruby had passed away. A distraught Lizzie confronted him, questioning his absence during their daughter's critical illness. The sapphire's origins trace back to Russian aristocrat Grand Duke Leon Petrovich Romanov, portrayed by Jan Bijvoet, who gave it to Tommy as payment for killing Soviet Union refugee Anton Kaledin, played by Richard Brake. Later, Tommy learned from Leon's niece, Grand Duchess Tatiana Petrovna, enacted by Gaite Jansen, that the sapphire carried a curse, which she refused to wear.
Tommy's Quest for Vengeance
Driven by grief and guilt, Tommy avenged Ruby's death by tracking down and shooting Evadne. This act of retribution underscores the deep emotional impact of Ruby's loss on Tommy's character, highlighting the themes of family and consequence that permeate the series. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is currently available for streaming on Netflix, offering fans a deeper dive into this compelling narrative.
