Tommy Shelby
| Thomas Shelby OBE DCM MM MP | |
|---|---|
| Peaky Blinders character | |
Cillian Murphy as Thomas Shelby in a promotional image for Peaky Blinders' second series | |
| First appearance | "Episode 1" (2013) |
| Last appearance | Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (2026) |
| Created by | Steven Knight |
| Portrayed by | Cillian Murphy |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Thomas Michael Shelby |
| Nickname |
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| Gender | Male |
| Title | Member of Parliament |
| Occupation |
|
| Affiliation | Peaky Blinders Labour Party British Union of Fascists (undercover) |
| Family | Elizabeth "Polly" Gray (aunt; deceased) Arthur Shelby Sr. (father; deceased) Michael Gray (cousin; deceased) Arthur Shelby (brother; deceased) John Shelby (brother; deceased) Finn Shelby (brother) Ada Shelby Thorne (sister; deceased) Freddie Thorne (brother in-law; deceased) |
| Spouse |
|
| Significant other | May Carleton (1921–1922) Princess Tatiana Petrovna (1924) Jessie Eden (1925–1926) Diana Mitford (1933–1934) |
| Children |
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| Origin | Small Heath, Birmingham |
| Nationality | British |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Service years | 1914–1918 |
| Rank | Sergeant Major |
| Unit | Birmingham Rifles |
| Conflicts | First World War |
| Awards | |
Thomas Michael Shelby OBE DCM MM is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the British period crime drama Peaky Blinders. He is played by Irish actor Cillian Murphy, who has won two Irish Film & Television Awards and two National Television Awards for his portrayal of Shelby. The character has received critical acclaim.
Director Steven Knight cast Cillian Murphy for the role of Tommy Shelby. The character is introduced as a First World War veteran from a family with Romani ancestry, whose criminal enterprise is centred in Birmingham. The narrative begins in 1919, and largely revolves around Shelby's romance with Grace Burgess and his conflict with Inspector Campbell. As the series progresses, Shelby's relationship with mob boss Alfie Solomons is a key element in many of the storylines.