Cillian Murphy shares his two cents on Barry Keoghan's acting in 'The Immortal Man'

Cillian Murphy says his Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man co-star Barry Keoghan brings a distinctive energy to the screen. 

Murphy passed his verdict in a recent interview, describing Keoghan, who plays Duke Shelby, Tommy’s illegitimate son and successor, as an actor with a "dangerous quality to him in camera."

“He has that thing where you just put a camera on him, and he’s instantly interesting. He has a sort of dangerous quality to him on camera, but he also has this vulnerability. They are sort of contradictory traits, but he has them all,” Murphy told The Independent.

Murphy said Keoghan’s combination of intensity and fragility brings authenticity and depth to the character and makes audiences connect with Duke’s complex journey.

Shifting from the performances, Murphy also reflected on the broader landscape of the acting industry and the need for accessible opportunities for emerging talent. 

He insisted that success should not be restricted to those from privileged backgrounds and stressed the vital role of community programmes in nurturing young actors.

“It certainly should not in any way be the case that this is an industry exclusively for privileged kids… Youth drama, youth clubs, and libraries – if those places get shut down and kids get locked out, then where do they go?" he raised at another point during the interview.

He continued, "It’s super important that there is an avenue for kids to think that this isn’t an impossibility. That’s the bedrock of it.”

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man premiered at Symphony Hall in Birmingham on 2–3 March 2026 and was released in select cinemas on 6 March 2026. It will be available on Netflix starting 20 March 2026.