Hello everyone! Cillian Murphy sat down with Margot Robbie for Variety’s Actors on Actors this week. The conversation centered on his work in Peaky Blinders, and it’s the kind of pairing that TV lovers tend to appreciate.
Murphy spent over a decade building Tommy Shelby into one of television’s most iconic characters. The sharp-suited, calculating head of the Birmingham Shelby crime family became a global phenomenon. Peaky Blinders, created by Steven Knight, ran on the BBC from 2013 to 2022. Netflix carried it internationally, turning a British period drama into a hit with a devoted following across continents. Murphy’s performance earned him serious awards recognition throughout that run. He then won Best Actor at the 2024 Oscars for his portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s film. That was a career milestone. But Peaky Blinders laid the foundation.
Variety’s Actors on Actors is a long-running interview series. It pairs prominent performers for candid, peer-to-peer conversation. Variety has typically released these interviews during awards season, and the format has featured some memorable pairings over the years. There’s no host involved. Two actors sit down and talk honestly about their craft. The format tends to draw out candid reflection. Promotional press tours rarely create that kind of space.
Robbie is one of the biggest names in Hollywood right now. The Australian actress built her profile with The Wolf of Wall Street, then went on to play Harley Quinn in the DC films, and became a cultural touchstone with Barbie in 2023. She co-founded LuckyChap Entertainment. That gives her a producer’s perspective alongside her acting credentials. Both she and Murphy have careers spanning indie credibility and mainstream studio success. That shared experience made for natural common ground.
Peaky Blinders is one of those shows. It brings characters and stories right into living rooms and keeps people invested for years. Tommy Shelby became one of those rare TV creations – morally complicated and genuinely hard to look away from. The series built something lasting, and Murphy was at the center of it.
A feature film follow-up has been widely reported as in development, with creator Steven Knight attached to write. Murphy is expected to return. No release date has been announced. His conversations about the Shelby world carry extra weight in that context.
The Oppenheimer Oscar is a milestone, but Peaky Blinders built the blueprint. Sitting down with Robbie to talk through that legacy, in a format this unscripted and open, is a genuine treat. Fans of the Shelby family will want to make time for this one.
Variety’s Actors on Actors keeps it simple. Two respected actors, no script, no handlers. An honest conversation about what it takes to bring a character to life. For anyone with a soft spot for Tommy Shelby and that Birmingham world, this one belongs on the watch list.
