“Peaky Blinders,” the acclaimed crime-drama series, has garnered impressive ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, captivating audiences with its captivating storytelling. One of the standout aspects contributing to its popularity is undoubtedly its compelling main character, Thomas Shelby.
Cillian Murphy has showcased an incredible range through his career, appearing in films like “28 Days Later” and “Oppenheimer,” which earned him an Oscar for Best Actor. However, many fans consider his portrayal of the stoic Thomas Shelby on a TV show as one of his most memorable performances. His intense dedication to the role even earned him the National Television Award for Best Drama Performance in 2020. With each scene, Murphy effortlessly embodies the commanding presence of the Shelby family leader, entertaining audiences for all 36 episodes of the BAFTA award-winning series.
Murphy’s commitment to the character has led to some of the character’s traits, like the iconic Shelby haircut, becoming trends among fans. Though the series often deals with serious themes, there are small humorous elements as well. For instance, how Thomas Shelby prepares before lighting a cigarette is a peculiarity that viewers have picked up on, leading to a few chuckles.
The Hilarious Reason Behind Tommy’s Pre-Cigarette Routine
During the show, you might have observed Tommy’s unusual cigarette habit. Before lighting up, he often rubs the cigarette against his lips, almost like he’s applying lipstick. In an interview with BBC Radio 1 (via YouTube), Murphy explained, “If you don’t rub them across your lips first, they tend to stick. It turned out to be this quirky habit, but I started doing it because otherwise, the cigarette would cling to my lips—and now it’s just part of Tommy’s character!» Given how significant smoking is for the character and the show, it makes sense why he developed this little quirk.
Fortunately for Murphy, he likely isn’t using actual tobacco when putting his lips all over the cigarettes. Helen McCory, who portrayed Polly Gray in the show, disclosed to Distractify that they use herbal cigarettes on set. Herbal cigarettes can be commonly seen in the industry; although they still aren’t healthy, they are safer than regular cigarettes.
Even though the cigarettes aren’t real, Murphy definitely dealt with his share of challenges when it came to performing that little routine. Nothing undermines your tough-guy image like fumbly smoke while trying to be cool. While serious moments abound on the show, the backstory of Tommy Shelby’s smoking habits surprisingly brings a light-hearted twist to the character.
