By order of the Peaky Blinders, we are officially opening the photo album. Few TV shows have turned a haircut, a flat cap, and a three-piece suit into a global mood quite like Peaky Blinders. The BBC crime drama, later boosted to worldwide fame through Netflix, gave viewers a smoky, sharply dressed vision of post-World War I Birmingham, led by Cillian Murphy’s unforgettable Tommy Shelby. But part of the fun of revisiting the series today is seeing how wildly different the cast looks outside the soot, whiskey glasses, and slow-motion walks through factory smoke.
This guide to the best Peaky Blinders cast photos then and now is built for fans who love character transformations, red-carpet glow-ups, behind-the-scenes nostalgia, and the occasional “Wait, that was them?” moment. Some actors were already famous before the Shelby family entered pop culture. Others became household names because of it. A few have gone from supporting roles to award-season domination, while others remain forever associated with the most stylish gang to ever make danger look like a tailoring appointment.
Below are 18 must-see cast-photo ideas and transformations worth revisiting, from Tommy Shelby’s icy stare to Aunt Polly’s regal presence, Arthur’s chaos, Ada’s evolution, Alfie’s beard, and the newer faces connected to the expanding Peaky Blinders universe.
Why ‘Peaky Blinders’ Then-and-Now Photos Are So Addictive
The magic of Peaky Blinders lies in contrast. On screen, the actors are wrapped in period costumes, dramatic lighting, cigarette haze, and enough emotional baggage to sink a canal boat. Off screen, they appear at premieres, fashion shows, award ceremonies, interviews, and modern film sets looking like normal humansvery talented, extremely photogenic normal humans, but normal humans all the same.
Then-and-now cast photos also show how the series aged with its performers. The original show ran from 2013 to 2022, concluding after six seasons, and later continued through the film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. That long timeline means the cast’s visual journey is not just a fashion comparison. It is a map of careers, fame, grief, reinvention, and legacy.
18 Best Must-See ‘Peaky Blinders’ Cast Photos: Then and Now
1. Cillian Murphy as Thomas Shelby
Then: Cillian Murphy’s Tommy Shelby arrived with razor-sharp cheekbones, an undercut that launched a thousand barber-shop requests, and eyes that seemed to be calculating three betrayals before breakfast. Early promotional photos show Tommy as a young gang leader in 1919 Birmingham: controlled, dangerous, and immaculately dressed.
Now: Modern photos of Murphy show the actor far removed from the soot-black streets of Small Heath. After Oppenheimer, his red-carpet presence became even more polished, quiet, and minimalist. The best then-and-now comparison places early Tommy beside present-day Murphy: one looks like he is about to seize a racetrack; the other looks like he politely declined becoming a movie star while accidentally becoming one anyway.
2. Helen McCrory as Polly Gray
Then: Helen McCrory’s Aunt Polly was the spiritual spine of Peaky Blinders. In cast photos, she looked powerful without needing to raise her voicedark dresses, sharp hats, and a gaze that could make grown gangsters reconsider their life choices.
Now: McCrory died in 2021, and any “now” photo carries a sense of tribute rather than simple comparison. The most meaningful then-and-now galleries pair her early Polly portraits with later red-carpet images that show her warmth, elegance, and theatrical command. She remains one of the show’s most beloved figures, and her absence in the final season was deeply felt.
3. Paul Anderson as Arthur Shelby
Then: Arthur Shelby’s photos are pure chaos in human form. Mustache, slicked hair, heavy suits, clenched jawhe looked like a man who might hug you, punch a wall, and cry in the same minute.
Now: Current Paul Anderson photos show a softer, more casual presence compared with Arthur’s volcanic energy. The transformation is fascinating because Anderson’s performance was so physically intense. Seeing him outside the role is a reminder that Arthur Shelby is not just a character; he is a full-body weather event created by an actor who knew exactly how to make trauma look dangerous.
4. Sophie Rundle as Ada Shelby
Then: Ada began as the Shelby sibling most determined to escape the family business, and early photos capture her youthful defiance. Her costumes often soften the Shelby darkness while still keeping her visually tied to the clan.
Now: Sophie Rundle’s more recent images show a performer who has grown into an impressive post-Peaky career, including acclaimed television work. Then-and-now photos of Rundle are especially satisfying because Ada herself evolved so muchfrom rebellious sister to politically aware operator who could stare down powerful men without blinking.
5. Joe Cole as John Shelby
Then: John Shelby’s early cast photos radiate youthful swagger. He looked like the Shelby brother most likely to grin before causing trouble, which made him both charming and dangerous.
Now: Joe Cole’s later photos, especially from projects like Gangs of London, show a more mature, intense screen presence. The best comparison makes one thing clear: John Shelby may have left the series, but Joe Cole did not leave crime drama behind. He simply changed neighborhoods.
6. Finn Cole as Michael Gray
Then: Michael Gray entered the series as Polly’s long-lost son, looking cleaner and more innocent than most of the Shelby operation. Early photos often show him as the polished outsider learning that family loyalty can come with a body count.
Now: Finn Cole’s modern photos reveal a confident actor with an expanding film and television career. Then-and-now images highlight how Michael’s innocence gradually hardened into ambition, resentment, and tragedy. It is one of the show’s most dramatic visual arcs.
7. Annabelle Wallis as Grace Burgess Shelby
Then: Grace’s early photos carry a classic period-drama glow: barmaid disguise, undercover intelligence, and romantic tension powerful enough to fog up the Garrison windows.
Now: Annabelle Wallis’s later red-carpet and screen photos show a modern star with sleek styling and major franchise experience. Her then-and-now comparison is striking because Grace’s visual identity was so soft and golden compared with the grim Shelby world. She looked like hope, which on Peaky Blinders is usually a warning sign.
8. Natasha O’Keeffe as Lizzie Shelby
Then: Lizzie’s earliest appearances were rooted in survival. Over time, her photos changed from vulnerable outsider to Tommy’s wife and a woman carrying grief, pride, and exhaustion with remarkable dignity.
Now: Natasha O’Keeffe’s current images show how far she is from Lizzie’s tragic elegance. A good then-and-now pairing reveals one of the show’s most underrated transformations. Lizzie did not simply change clothes; she changed social position, emotional weight, and the entire temperature of every room she entered.
9. Tom Hardy as Alfie Solomons
Then: Alfie Solomons is one of the great “how is this man both terrifying and hilarious?” characters. In photos, Tom Hardy disappears behind beard, hat, heavy coat, and the suspicious energy of a man who absolutely has a plan and absolutely will not explain it clearly.
Now: Modern Hardy photos show a global film star, athlete, and fan-favorite screen chameleon. Comparing Alfie to Hardy today is delightful because Alfie looks like he was assembled from old bread, gunpowder, and biblical insults. Hardy, meanwhile, can clean up for a premiere and still look like he knows where the bodies are buried.
10. Sam Neill as Inspector Chester Campbell
Then: Sam Neill’s Campbell photos are all stern collars, moral judgment, and villainous authority. He was the law, technically, though Peaky Blinders never made the law look especially relaxing.
Now: Neill’s later photos reflect a beloved veteran actor with a warm public persona and decades of iconic roles behind him. The then-and-now contrast is funny because Campbell was so rigid and menacing, while Neill himself often comes across as charming, reflective, and far more likely to discuss vineyards than vendettas.
11. Anya Taylor-Joy as Gina Gray
Then: Gina Gray entered the series with icy glamour and American ambition. Her photos from the show are sleek, controlled, and expensive-lookingthe visual opposite of Shelby mud and factory smoke.
Now: Anya Taylor-Joy’s career exploded after The Queen’s Gambit, and her current fashion images often look like high art with cheekbones. Her Peaky photos feel like an early chapter in a much larger star story. Gina may have been trouble, but Taylor-Joy made that trouble look couture.
12. Sam Claflin as Oswald Mosley
Then: Sam Claflin’s Oswald Mosley photos are chilling because the character’s danger is polished, political, and smiling. Unlike the street-level violence of the Shelbys, Mosley’s menace comes wrapped in speeches, suits, and social access.
Now: Current photos of Claflin show a versatile actor known for romance, drama, and darker roles. The then-and-now contrast proves how effectively styling can weaponize charm. As Mosley, Claflin looked less like a gangster and more like a man who could make a room applaud something terrible.
13. Aidan Gillen as Aberama Gold
Then: Aberama Gold’s photos show rugged charisma: long hair, weathered clothes, and the aura of someone who treats revenge as a scheduling priority. He brought a wild, almost mythic energy to the Shelby orbit.
Now: Aidan Gillen’s modern photos are more refined, often reminding fans of his many memorable roles outside Peaky Blinders. Then-and-now images are fun because Aberama looked like he lived by campfire and curse, while Gillen off screen looks ready for an intelligent interview and possibly a very complicated espresso order.
14. Adrien Brody as Luca Changretta
Then: Luca Changretta’s photos brought American gangster glamour into the series. Adrien Brody leaned into sharp suits, slick hair, and theatrical menace, creating a villain who looked like he had stepped out of a classic mob painting.
Now: Brody’s recent photos continue to show his distinctive elegance and art-house intensity. The then-and-now comparison is less about transformation and more about amplification. Luca was Brody filtered through revenge, tailoring, and a very serious relationship with toothpicks.
15. Kate Phillips as Linda Shelby
Then: Linda Shelby’s photos often place her between restraint and rebellion. She entered Arthur’s life as a moral counterweight, but the Shelby family tends to turn moral counterweights into emotional punching bags.
Now: Kate Phillips has since become recognizable to many viewers through period and detective dramas. Her modern photos are bright, polished, and far from Linda’s tense marriage to Arthur. The best comparison shows how Linda’s severe styling helped communicate her inner conflict: devotion, disapproval, and the strong suspicion that she married into a very bad group chat.
16. Ned Dennehy as Charlie Strong
Then: Charlie Strong’s cast photos are wonderfully lived-in. He looked like a man who knew every canal, every shipment, every horse, and every secret worth keeping quiet.
Now: Ned Dennehy’s recent photos show a character actor with an unmistakable face and a long résumé of memorable roles. Then-and-now comparisons remind viewers how much texture actors like Dennehy gave the series. Not everyone needed to be a Shelby to make Birmingham feel alive.
17. Packy Lee as Johnny Dogs
Then: Johnny Dogs’ photos are instantly recognizable: cap, grin, rough charm, and that loyal-but-mischievous energy that made him a fan favorite. He looked like the man you would trust with your horse, your secret, and maybe not your wallet.
Now: Packy Lee’s current photos retain that approachable spark. His then-and-now pairing is one of the warmest in the Peaky Blinders cast because Johnny Dogs brought humor and humanity to a show that otherwise spent a lot of time standing in dramatic smoke.
18. Stephen Graham as Hayden Stagg
Then: Stephen Graham’s Hayden Stagg arrived late in the series but left a serious impression. His photos show a dock worker with moral gravity, working-class grit, and the rare ability to challenge Arthur Shelby without turning the scene into immediate furniture damage.
Now: Graham remains one of the most respected actors working today, known for emotional precision and intense screen presence. A then-and-now photo set works beautifully because Stagg was not flashy. He was grounded. In a world of gangsters, fascists, and family betrayals, he looked like reality walking into the room and asking everyone to calm down.
What Makes These Cast Transformations So Memorable?
The best Peaky Blinders then and now photos do more than show aging, style changes, or career upgrades. They reveal how strongly costume, hair, lighting, and posture shape our memory of a character. Tommy Shelby without his cap is still Cillian Murphy, but Tommy Shelby with the cap becomes a cultural symbol. Aunt Polly in a black dress and hat is not just styled; she is armored. Alfie’s beard is not facial hair; it is a warning label.
Another reason these photos work so well is that Peaky Blinders treated every character like a portrait. Even minor roles had strong visual identities. The show understood silhouettes: Tommy’s narrow suits, Arthur’s mustache, Polly’s hats, Ada’s evolving elegance, Alfie’s heavy layers, Mosley’s political polish. You could identify many characters from across a smoky room, which is convenient because half the show looked like it was filmed inside a haunted chimney.
How the Cast Changed After ‘Peaky Blinders’
After the series ended, the cast spread into major films, prestige dramas, streaming hits, and franchise projects. Cillian Murphy’s post-Peaky rise reached a new peak with Oppenheimer. Anya Taylor-Joy became one of Hollywood’s most photographed stars. Joe Cole and Finn Cole continued building careers in crime, thriller, and drama. Sophie Rundle remained a familiar face in acclaimed television, while Tom Hardy kept doing what Tom Hardy does best: choosing roles that require danger, mumbling, or both.
The continuation of the franchise through Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man also gives fans fresh photo material. New images of returning cast members are especially valuable because they extend the visual timeline. The original series began in the aftermath of World War I and moved through years of political and personal upheaval. The film pushes the mythology forward, giving viewers another chance to compare old Shelby energy with new Shelby consequences.
Experience Section: What It Feels Like to Revisit ‘Peaky Blinders’ Cast Photos Now
Looking through Peaky Blinders cast photos then and now feels a little like opening a family album you definitely were not supposed to find in a locked drawer at the Garrison. At first, it is fun and visual: the haircuts, the suits, the red carpets, the dramatic stills, the “how did they make that actor look 40 percent more haunted?” questions. But after a few minutes, the experience becomes more emotional than expected.
Part of that comes from the show’s unusually strong atmosphere. Peaky Blinders was never just a plot machine. It was a mood. Fans remember Tommy walking through smoke, Polly staring down danger, Arthur vibrating with pain, Ada refusing to be swallowed by the family business, and Alfie turning every conversation into a riddle wrapped in bread crumbs. Seeing the actors outside those roles creates a strange double vision. You know they are performers. You know Birmingham is a set, the blood is staged, and the caps are probably safer than the legend suggests. Still, the characters feel stubbornly real.
Then-and-now photos also make you notice how much time has passed. The earliest cast images have that fresh-series energy: nobody fully knew the show would become a global phenomenon. Later photos carry the confidence of actors who helped build something iconic. By the time you reach images connected to the final season or the film continuation, the faces seem to carry historynot just the characters’ history, but the audience’s too. Viewers who started watching in 2013 may have changed jobs, moved cities, had children, ended relationships, started new ones, or finally admitted they cannot pull off the Tommy Shelby haircut. Growth comes for us all.
The most powerful experience is revisiting Helen McCrory’s photos. Her presence as Polly remains electric. In early stills, she looks like the only person in the room who truly understands the cost of power. In later public photos, she appears warm, witty, and radiant. That contrast gives the photo journey depth. It is no longer just “then and now.” It becomes appreciation. It becomes memory.
For fans, the best way to enjoy these photos is to treat them as a visual rewatch. Start with the original cast portraits, move through season-by-season promotional images, then compare them with modern premieres, interviews, and movie-era shots. Notice the details: Ada’s posture, Tommy’s stillness, Arthur’s tension, Lizzie’s elegance, Michael’s hardening expression. The photos remind us that great television is collaborative. Actors, costume designers, makeup artists, photographers, directors, and writers all helped create these unforgettable images.
And yes, after looking at enough of them, you may feel tempted to buy a flat cap. Proceed carefully. On Cillian Murphy, it says “strategic criminal mastermind.” On the rest of us, depending on lighting, it may say “forgot my umbrella.”
Conclusion
The best Peaky Blinders cast photos then and now capture more than physical change. They show the journey of a cast that turned a stylish British crime drama into a worldwide obsession. From Cillian Murphy’s transformation into Tommy Shelby to Helen McCrory’s unforgettable authority as Polly Gray, from Tom Hardy’s scene-stealing Alfie to Anya Taylor-Joy’s icy Gina, each actor helped build the show’s fierce visual identity.
Whether you are revisiting old promotional stills, comparing red-carpet looks, or exploring new images from the continuing Peaky Blinders story, these 18 cast transformations prove why the series remains so photogenic. The suits were sharp, the characters were sharper, and the legacy still walks into the room like it owns the place.