When audiences think of Peaky Blinders they often picture Cillian Murphy as Thomas “Tommy” Shelby with a dark suit, a level stare, and an amber drink in hand. Those visuals became part of the show’s visual identity across six seasons.
But the liquid in the glass was never whiskey.
In a recent recollection, an unassuming sentence sums up Murphy’s approach: “No real drink on set.”
A boundary that shaped a character — not the other way around
According to Murphy, every whiskey toast, pour, and dramatic sip across the show’s 36 episodes was cold tea — or occasionally tinted water. Industry practice often relies on substitute liquids for long shoot days. What stands out here is that Murphy elevated the substitute from convenience to policy.
It meant the creative intensity of the performance stayed on screen — and not in his bloodstream.
The other prop that added up: thousands of herbal cigarettes
The series also involved persistent smoking scenes — another hallmark of Tommy Shelby’s image.
Murphy says that over nine years of filming, he consumed around 3,000 herbal cigarettes, created specifically for screen use and free of nicotine. Those were made from plant material such as rose petals.
It is a reminder that repetition, rather than excess, is what filming often demands. One close-up can require more than a dozen takes. Multiply that by months of shooting, across multiple years, and the numbers grow quickly.
A long view on compelling characters
Murphy’s firm approach reinforces something that is too easily forgotten about prestige television: the most potent performances often depend on restraint behind the camera.
Murphy’s career arc proves the point. After Peaky Blinders, his collaboration with director Christopher Nolan reached a new peak with Oppenheimer — and an Academy Award for Best Actor.
That trajectory suggests his preparation style does not rely on “living like the character,” but on constructing the character — carefully, and without compromising personal boundaries.
The bigger takeaway
The two most circulated stats from Murphy’s time as Tommy Shelby — “no real drink” and “3,000 herbal cigarettes” — are not footnotes. They illustrate a creative philosophy:
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authenticity is a performance, not a lifestyle
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boundaries can coexist with immersive work
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big roles are built with small, consistent decisions
The world of Peaky Blinders still resonates in popular culture. But the craft Cillian Murphy brought to the role is perhaps an even stronger legacy — one that shows discipline can be as defining as intensity.