The World Is Crazy About Tommy Shelby’s Undercut, But Cillian Murphy Hates It For A Laughable Reason! The razor-sharp, severe hairstyle worn by Thomas Shelby—often called the “textured French crop” or “disconnected undercut”—is arguably one of the most recognizable and widely imitated looks in modern television history. Thanks to the global phenomenon that is Peaky Blinders, the cut sparked a massive global trend in men’s fashion, with barbershops inundated with requests for the “Peaky cut.” Yet, the man who made the hairstyle iconic, actor Cillian Murphy, holds a deep and rather funny aversion to it, but not for aesthetic reasons.
The Unwanted Fame: The Problem of Visibility
Cillian Murphy is known to be a deeply private and reserved individual who prefers to live a life outside of the constant scrutiny of Hollywood stardom. For Murphy, the dramatic hairstyle of his on-screen role as the Birmingham gangster leader is the ultimate loss of his beloved anonymity. The actor finds the transformation into his character a double-edged sword.
The Haircut as a Beacon
Murphy has revealed in multiple interviews that the distinctive undercut acts as a giant, visible identifier of his famous character. When he sports the cut, he cannot achieve his preferred state of being: “invisible.” He likes to keep his hair long enough to cover his forehead so that he can live “in hiding” and go unnoticed by the public.
The Laughable Affliction
“It’s when you get the haircut that people start shouting at ya,” Murphy told Vulture, highlighting his predicament. He explained that in real life, when he wears his preferred long, grown-out hair, he can “get the bus quite unmolested.” As soon as he gets the “Peaky Cut,” people immediately recognize him. They will scream, “Peaky Blinders!” or rush over to him, shattering his peace.
Data on a Global Trend
The style’s popularity is not just anecdotal; it represents a major cross-cultural impact, despite Murphy’s personal preference for obscurity. Fact: Historically, the undercut was popular with working-class men in the 1910s and 1920s partly for hygiene (reducing lice) and practicality in street fights (less hair to grab). After the show’s debut, the disconnected undercut saw a global resurgence in the 2010s. The show’s influence placed the retro style among the most requested men’s haircuts worldwide for nearly a decade. Murphy finds it “bizarre” that this style, which he is “contractually obliged to have,” became desirable among “fashionistas.” Ultimately, while the textured French crop is a crucial element of Thomas Shelby’s character—enhancing his sharp, intimidating presence—for Cillian Murphy, it is merely the unfortunate price of fame, forcing him out of his desired cloak of civilian invisibility.