Irish actor Barry Keoghan has disclosed that he tapped into his own deeply personal and complex relationship with his absent father to bring authenticity to his role in the highly anticipated Netflix film, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. The Dublin-born star, aged 33, who has been candid about his challenging childhood, explained how the dynamic between his character and on-screen father resonated powerfully with his own life experiences.
Drawing from Personal History for On-Screen Authenticity
Keoghan portrays Erasmus "Duke" Shelby, the illegitimate son abandoned by the notorious gang leader Tommy Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy, in this new spin-off from the acclaimed television series. At a recent press conference, Keoghan elaborated on how the theme of absence in the father-son relationship mirrored his own upbringing, where he and his brother were placed in separate foster homes after their mother struggled with and ultimately died from drug addiction.
"It was the relationship, for me, and it was the absence I leaned into," Keoghan stated. "The experience I have in some similar ways to my absence of my dad, and the echoes I've heard of him and the kind of figure I've made him to be. I felt that was... a humanity. It sort of humanises Duke for me to show those vulnerabilities."
Exploring the Animalistic Bond Between Father and Son
The Bafta-winning actor, who is a new addition to the Peaky Blinders universe, described his approach to the character as rooted in a primal, animalistic connection. "At the end of the day, there's an animalistic thing of the cub looking for its dad," Keoghan explained. "That's what I brought it back to when Tommy is finally there. This behaviour he does when he's not there, emulating him and trying to be like him from what he's heard, and trying to put it on to when he is with him. I wanted to lean into that, make that a conscious thing."
In the film, Tommy Shelby returns from self-imposed exile during the turmoil of the Second World War, only to discover Duke leading the violent Peaky Blinders crime gang. Keoghan emphasised that Duke's violent tendencies are reactions and cries for help, rather than mere justifications, adding depth to the character's motivations.
Joining an Iconic Franchise with Nerves and Excitement
Keoghan expressed both excitement and nervousness about joining the "iconic" Peaky Blinders franchise, which first aired on the BBC in 2013 and ran for six series over nearly a decade. "It is nerve wracking, it is exciting and... there's sort of anticipation to it. But yeah, it was such an experience," he remarked, highlighting the significance of stepping into a world beloved by fans worldwide.
The actor, a self-professed fan of the show and of Cillian Murphy, shared his enthusiasm for the role: "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."
Release Details and Background
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is scheduled for release on Netflix from March 20, 2026. The original television drama followed the Birmingham-based Shelby crime family and garnered a massive global following, making this film one of the most anticipated releases in recent years.
Keoghan's openness about his personal struggles adds a layer of authenticity to his performance, promising a compelling portrayal that blends raw emotion with the gritty realism characteristic of the Peaky Blinders universe.
