With the long-awaited Peaky Blinders movie set to hit theaters in 2026, a fresh wave of Peaky-mania has swept through fans revisiting the smoke-filled streets of post-World War I Birmingham. While the series is best remembered for powerhouse performances and swaggering crime drama, eagle-eyed viewers are now catching a surprising “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” appearance from an actor who would later become one of Britain’s most celebrated stars.
Long before awards season buzz and global fame, Josh O’Connor quietly slipped into the Shelby universe during Season 2, playing a character so understated that many viewers barely registered him at the time.
The Bohemian Housemate: James in Season 2
In the second season of the Steven Knight–created drama, O’Connor appears as James, a soft-spoken, quirky writer living in a bohemian London flat with Ada Shelby. At this point in the story, Ada is deliberately distancing herself from the violent ambitions of her brothers, searching instead for a life rooted in politics, art, and ideas. James represents that world: intellectual, gentle, and wholly removed from the blood-soaked business of Small Heath.
His presence is subtle but meaningful. In one memorable scene, Tommy Shelby storms into Ada’s apartment and immediately bristles at James, mistaking him for a romantic rival. Ada coolly explains that James is merely a tenant — and not interested in women — turning him into an unexpected pawn in Tommy’s psychological chess match with Alfie Solomons. The moment is brief, but it underscores the contrast between the Shelbys’ ruthless instincts and the quieter lives orbiting them.
From Background Player to Awards Magnet
When O’Connor filmed Peaky Blinders in 2014, he was still carving out a name on the British television circuit. What followed was a meteoric rise few could have predicted from those London flat scenes.
His raw, emotionally devastating turn in God’s Own Country first put him on the international radar. Then came his transformative portrayal of Prince Charles in The Crown, a role that earned him both an Emmy and a Golden Globe. By 2024, he was headlining the glossy, high-stakes tennis drama Challengers, cementing his status as a true global leading man.
A Quiet Reminder of Peaky Blinders’ Casting Magic
Season 2’s expansion beyond Birmingham allowed the series to explore different social worlds, and James served as a grounded counterpoint to the Shelbys’ escalating violence. In hindsight, O’Connor’s brief role feels like a fascinating time capsule — a glimpse of immense talent before the spotlight found him.
As audiences gear up for the 2026 film, rewatching Season 2 offers a rewarding surprise. That quiet writer sharing Ada Shelby’s flat would go on to command stages, screens, and award ceremonies worldwide. It’s a testament to Peaky Blinders’ uncanny eye for talent — and proof that even the smallest roles in the Shelby saga can hide future stars waiting to explode.