Michael Gray (character)

''Peaky Blinders'' is a British period crime drama television series created by Steven Knight. Set in Birmingham, it follows the exploits of the Peaky Blinders crime gang in the direct aftermath of the First World War. The fictional gang is loosely based on a real urban youth gang of the same name who were active in the city from the 1880s to the 1910s.

The programme began on 12 September 2013, broadcast on BBC Two until the fourth series (with repeats on BBC Four), then moved to BBC One for the fifth and sixth series.

The following is a list of characters from the series.

Cast table

Main characters

Tommy Shelby

Thomas Michael Shelby (also known by his alias Tommy Shelby) (played by Cillian Murphy) is the main protagonist of the ''Peaky Blinders'' series. He is the son of Arthur and Mrs. Shelby, brother of Arthur, John, Ada and Finn Shelby, and father of Charles and Ruby Shelby. He was married to Grace and later to Lizzie Shelby. He is the leader of the Peaky Blinders, a criminal gang in Birmingham, and the patriarch of the Shelby family.

Thomas served as a Sergeant Major in World War I and received medals for gallantry, which he threw away in a canal after returning from the war. His experiences in World War I left him disillusioned and gave him recurring nightmares. He becomes determined to increase his family's social rank to prevent his family from being mistreated.

After the vendetta with the New York Mafia, and during the year of the Wall Street Crash, Thomas Shelby became a Member of Parliament as a member of the Labour Party, while lending the chair of the legal business to his older brother, Arthur Shelby.

Tommy is respected in his local community and is seen as dangerous by his enemies. Under his leadership, the Peaky Blinders have risen from a local Birmingham street gang to a national enterprise that has gone toe-to-toe with the New York Mafia. His experiences in World War I have made him fearless and almost impossible to intimidate. Despite being a gangster, Tommy is not heartless, as he has shown remorse for his actions. By Season 5, Tommy has become depressed and unhappy in life, causing him to be suicidal, as he almost kills himself several times in Season 5.

After the death of Polly Gray, Tommy becomes sober and quits drinking. Later, he is falsely diagnosed of inoperable tuberculoma due to which he demolishes his house, bids farewell to his family and goes off to live alone in the wild. After returning and watching his wagon and remaining possessions burn, Tommy rides away.

Arthur Shelby Jr.

Arthur Shelby Jr. (played by Paul Anderson) is another main protagonist of ''Peaky Blinders''. He is the eldest son of Arthur and Mrs. Shelby, older brother of Thomas, John, Ada and Finn Shelby, as well as being the father of Billy Shelby. He was married to Linda Shelby, and is a member of the Peaky Blinders. He is also Deputy Vice President of Shelby Company Limited and member of the ICA, acting as his brother's assistant. Arthur has drug addiction, which affects him more over time.

Arthur is loyal to his family. He has great remorse over his actions, but he cannot always control himself, as he gets aggravated easily, especially over things that, as he feels, are meant to attack his or his family's pride.

Ada Thorne

Ada Thorne (née Shelby) (played by Sophie Rundle) is the fourth and only female of the Shelby siblings and the only sibling initially not involved with the Peaky Blinders. By the end of 1924, however, Ada assumes a leading position in the United States branch of Shelby Company Limited, dealing only with legal acquisitions, unlike her brothers in Birmingham.

She is the widow of known communist Freddie Thorne, with whom she had a son, Karl Thorne—named after Karl Marx.

Polly Gray

Elizabeth Pollyanna "Polly" Gray (née Shelby) (played by Helen McCrory) was the mother of Michael and Anna Gray, and the aunt of Arthur, Thomas, John, Ada and Finn Shelby, as well as being the matriarch of the Shelby Family. She is part of the Peaky Blinders and is a certified accountant and company treasurer of Shelby Company Limited.

While the Shelby brothers were absent during World War I, Polly managed the Peaky Blinders business. Since her nephews came back, she has helped her family with family feuds and advising on the company's actions and policies.

She was killed by the IRA, as a consequence for her nephews' actions after they tried to have Oswald Mosley assassinated. Her body was then delivered to Thomas' house, Arrow House, where he broke down in tears from grief and guilt.

John Shelby

John Michael Shelby (also known by his alias Johnny and John Boy) (played by Joe Cole) was one of the members of the Peaky Blinders. He was a British street gangster who was a soldier during the First World War. He was the third son of Arthur Shelby Sr, brother of Arthur, Thomas, Ada and Finn Shelby, as well as being the husband of Martha and Esme Shelby. John had seven children, two sons and two daughters with his deceased first wife Martha Shelby, and three children with Esme. One of his daughters is called Katie Shelby.

John was a high-ranking member of the Peaky Blinders, as well as being a 1/3 shareholder of the Shelby Family business, Shelby Company Limited.

John was shot dead by Changretta's men.

Grace Shelby

Grace Helen Shelby (née Burgess) (played by Annabelle Wallis) was an Irish woman who takes up employment as a barmaid at The Garrison Pub, and secretly operated as an undercover agent for the Birmingham Police. Her mission involved getting close to Thomas Shelby to retrieve stolen weaponry. She worked under Inspector Campbell who used to know her late father, and she claimed to be trained as a secret operative.

By the end of Series 1, she and Thomas Shelby became lovers, but she eventually left for America, urging Thomas to come with her. However, Thomas refused her offer.

Two years after, Grace was married to Clive Macmillan, a rich banker and living in Poughkeepsie, New York. However, her feelings for Thomas have not faded. When she came to London, she met Thomas. She later revealed to him that not only is she still in love with him, but she is now carrying his child.

In Series 3, the pair marry and were happy living in a beautiful country estate with their young son, Charles. She was shot dead while they were hosting an evening party, killed by an Italian assassin on the orders of Vicente Changretta.

Chester Campbell

Chester Campbell (played by Sam Neill) was an inspector in the Royal Irish Constabulary hired by Winston Churchill to locate and recover the missing consignment of guns from the Birmingham Small Arms factory.

While he was clearly dedicated to his job of upholding the law, he had no problem with using excessive brutality and underhanded methods to do so. He had no problems with asking his henchmen to carry out criminal acts.

Polly Gray cornered Major Campbell in a phone booth while he was on the phone with Winston Churchill and, despite his pleading, she shoots him.

Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill (played by Andy Nyman (series 1), Richard McCabe (series 2), and Neil Maskell (series 5–6) was the Secretary of State for the Colonies between 1921 and 1922. He hires Inspector Campbell to retrieve his stolen machine guns, a man who he finds amusing but a good candidate for the job. It is revealed that two years after the death of Inspector Campbell, Churchill is still making deals with Thomas Shelby that benefit the both of them

Michael Gray

Michael Gray (played by Finn Cole) was the son of Polly Gray and the cousin of the Shelby siblings. He was taken away from Polly at a young age and was raised by his adoptive mother. After Thomas learned about Polly's wish to find her children again, he pays Michael's foster family a visit and invites the boy to see his biological mother. Michael reunites with his mother and became a part of the Shelby Family and the Peaky Blinders at the age of 17, starting out on the respectable and Legal, legal side of the family business, Shelby Company Limited.

After Polly is murdered by the IRA, Michael was devastated, reasoning that Tommy's ambition and schemes lead to her death. He swears revenge on Tommy at all costs. By 1933, Michael is completely estranged from the Shelby family and has moved to the US where he now has a son with his wife Gina named Laurence.

Michael sets up his plan to kill Thomas by blowing him up with a car bomb. Unknown to Michael, Tommy had predicted Michael would try to kill him and had Johnny Dogs switch the car bombs. In the explosion, Michael's associates are killed and Tommy finally shoots Michael in the head, leaving his corpse to rot.

Freddie Thorne

Freddie Thorne (played by Iddo Goldberg) was a known communist who lived in Birmingham and was formerly a close friend of Thomas Shelby. He was briefly married to Ada Thorne before his death, and the two have one son together, Karl Thorne – named after Karl Marx.

Freddie died of "pestilence", likely the Spanish Influenza pandemic.

Finn Shelby

Finn Shelby (played by Alfie Evans-Meese in series 1 and Harry Kirton in series 2 – series 6) is the youngest member of the Peaky Blinders, a son of Arthur Shelby Sr. and Mrs. Shelby and the youngest brother of Arthur, Thomas, John, and Ada Shelby. He is later married to Mary Shelby.

Finn has always been the odd one out among the Shelby siblings. He is significantly younger than the others, and thus he did not fight in World War I. His brothers see him as weak, immature, and lacking experience. They believe he does not have the ruthlessness of a "true" Shelby. His haplessness proves to be a liability. As he gets older, Finn becomes interested only in having fun and partying.

Upon finding out that Billy was the one who informed the IRA about the attempted assassination of Oswald Mosley, resulting in the operation being ruined, Isiah and Duke beat him. They reveal that Thomas has informed them that Finn is to shoot Billy. If he does not, Finn can "walk away from the family for good." A shaken Finn shows his true colors by furiously insulting Duke's mother and turning the gun on Isiah. When he tries to shoot it, the gun only clicks. As Duke had emptied the first two chambers, thus allowing him and Isiah to witness Finn's betrayal while remaining unscathed. Then, Duke Shelby banishes Finn from the family and the Peaky Blinders.

Alfie Solomons

Alfred "Alfie" Solomons Jr. (played by Tom Hardy) is a Jewish gang leader residing in Camden Town, London. The character is based on a real-life Jewish gangster named Alfred Solomon. Most of Alfie's income comes from racetrack rackets, although he also runs a rum distillery, a jewellery business and protection rackets in Camden Town. Alfie is protective of Britain's Jewish community.

Billy Kimber

William "Billy" Kimber (played by Charlie Creed-Miles) was an English gangster and head of the Birmingham Boys, the main enemy of Thomas Shelby and the Peaky Blinders. He ran most of the legal tracks outside of London, leading to tensions between Kimber and the Peaky Blinders, who looked to expand their control into inner city London.

Due to his wealth and influence, Kimber had policemen on his payroll and an assistant, Roberts.

Darby Sabini

Charles "Darby" Sabini born, Ottavio Handley Sabini (11 July 1888 – 4 October 1950) (played by Noah Taylor) is a British Italian gang leader from London, England. He was at war with Alfie Solomons and Thomas Shelby in Series 2.

As leader of the Sabinis and "king of the racecourse gangs," he dominated the London underworld and racecourses throughout the south of England for much of the early twentieth century. Although his Clerkenwell-based organization gained the core of its income from racecourse protection rackets operated against bookmakers, it was also involved in a range of criminal activities including extortion, theft, as well as operating several nightclubs. It had an estimated 300 members, and is said to have included imported Sicilian gunmen, although the Sabinis originated in central Italy. The members were also notorious for razor attacks. At its peak, Sabini had extensive police and political connections including judges, politicians, and police officials.

Conflicts with competing gangs the Birmingham Boys, Elephant and Castle Mob, Cortesi brothers, the Yiddishers, and the White family were common, and in 1922, he was involved in a gunfight with the Cortesi brothers.

Lizzie Shelby

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Shelby (née Stark) (played by Natasha O'Keeffe) is the second wife of Thomas Shelby, mother of Ruby Shelby, and stepmother of Thomas' elder son, Charles Shelby. Lizzie was a former prostitute in Small Heath, Birmingham.

She is treated horribly by the Shelby family, and yet continues to remain loyal to them. Thomas makes her his secretary, but not only does he expect her to play the whore for him when his plans require it, the family refuses to allow her any say in who she dates or what does in her off-hours.

In 1934, Lizzie finally has enough and leaves Thomas when she finds out he has been sleeping with Diana Mitford. When Charles says he wants to go with her, she tells him that Thomas will not let her. Thomas surprises both of them by telling Charles that he can go with Lizzie.

Linda Shelby

"Linda Shelby" (played by Kate Phillips) is the ex-wife of Arthur Shelby Jr. and a former close ally of the Peaky Blinders. After Arthur begins experiencing mental illness, she begins looking to divorce him, eventually culminating in her attempting to kill him. She is addicted to cocaine. Linda used to be a Quaker, a member of a religious Christian movement. She then helped Arthur with his sobriety, among other things.

Esme Shelby

Esme Martha Shelby (née Lee) (played by Aimee-Ffion Edwards) is a member of the Lee Family and, by marriage to John Shelby, a member of the Shelby Family.

She has little involvement within the Shelby family business or the Peaky Blinders, rather the marriage between the two was arranged to bring peace between the two families and provide a mother for John's four children.

After John's Death, Esme moves to the mountains with her kids and lives a peaceful life there until Tommy finds her and asks for help to find the cure for the curse of his daughter, Ruby Shelby. Esme is the one to tell Tommy about his lost son, Duke Shelby.

Isiah Jesus

Isiah Jesus (played by Jordan Bolger (series 1–4) and by Daryl McCormack (series 5–6)) is the son of Jeremiah Jesus and a member of the Peaky Blinders. Isiah is a close friend of Finn Shelby. In 1922, when Isiah and Michael arrive at a pub, one of the customers refuses to drink in the same pub as a black man. The man demands that Isiah leaves, however Isiah refuses, leading to a fight between them. Isiah is made Arthur's lieutenant by Thomas on the Hayden Stagg mission.

After Billy Grade is revealed to be the informant, Finn attempts to shoot Isiah after being given a gun by Duke Shelby to finish off Grade. Fortunately, Duke emptied the first two chambers of the gun, saving Isiah's life and having Finn banished from the Shelby family.

Tatiana Petrovna

Tatiana Petrovna (played by Gaite Jansen) is a Russian Grand Duchess forced to flee Russia after the revolution. Tatiana is brought from London to Thomas Shelby by Sergeant Moss of the Birmingham Police. She makes a deal with him to steal her family's jewels so that he can return them to her and she can run away to another country where a lover is waiting for her.

Father Hughes

Father John Hughes (played by Paddy Considine) was a member and representative of The Economic League, working with Patrick Jarvis.

Hughes represented the Crown and was acting under orders to report to the Reds because they wanted to provoke an attack on British soil, which would break diplomatic relations with the Communists.

It is revealed that Hughes molested Michael Gray when he was six years old, after he was taken from Polly and put under Hughes' care. Thus, Michael insisted that he be the one to end Hughes' life. Michael kills Hughes by stabbing him to death.

Aberama Gold

Aberama Gold (played by Aidan Gillen) was a Romany gypsy hitman-for-hire, a man with a reputation for being a dangerous savage with little regard for the rules. He was the head of a very old and well-respected Romany family. He was hired by Thomas Shelby when Luca Changretta, set on revenge against the entire Shelby family, arrives in England.

Aberama tells Tommy that he does not want just money in return for his help. He also demands that Tommy to help his son, Bonnie Gold, become a boxing champion.

After the murder of his son, Aberama begins plotting his revenge on Bonnie's murderer, Jimmy McCavern. He and Polly eventually become engaged. During an ambush plan on McCavern, Aberama is ambushed and stabbed to death by the IRA.

Luca Changretta

Luca Changretta (played by Adrien Brody) was an Italian-American mobster from New York City, the son of Audrey and Vicente Changretta, and the new leader of the Changretta family.

After his father and brother, Angel Changretta, are killed by the Peaky Blinders he obtains enough information from his surviving mother, Audrey, to launch a vendetta in Birmingham against Thomas and the rest of the surviving Shelby family.

Arthur keeps his promise on avenging his deceased brother John, by shooting Luca in the forehead with a pistol.

Jessie Eden

Jessie Eden (played by Charlie Murphy) is an enigmatic union convener. She leads all-female factory workers in Birmingham out on strike protesting on the Bull Ring. She was based on the real life person of the same name.

Jessie is a union leader at one of Thomas Shelby's factories and is a member of the Stechford branch of the British Communist Party.

In 1924, Jessie is a shop steward at the Lucas factory in Sparkhill. She brings all the female workers in the spot-welding and wire-cutting shops out on strike that day. They are protesting at poor conditions, lack of holidays, unsanitary lavatory provisions, and lower pay for female workers. All the female factory workers in the city join the protest to march on the Bull Ring. Among them are Polly Gray, Esme Shelby, and Lizzie Stark, at the behest of Linda Shelby.

Gina Gray

Gina Gray (née Nelson) (played by Anya Taylor-Joy) is the scheming wife of Michael Gray and mother of Laurence Gray. The two met when Michael was in the United States and fell in love. When Michael is recalled to Birmingham, following the Wall Street Crash, Gina expresses her wish to return with him. Gina manipulates Michael into taking control of the company from Tommy. After Tommy angrily rejects Michael's proposal, Michael and Gina are both banished from the Shelby Family and told to never return.

By 1933, Gina has given birth to a son named Laurence Gray and lives in Boston with Michael. They plot the murder of Tommy. Gina insisted that Arthur needs to die as well. She also suggested killing Tommy's son, Charlie Shelby and his recently discovered son, Duke Shelby, but Michael says only Tommy and Arthur will die and that is it, as it is unnecessary for there to be a bloodbath.

Oswald Mosley

Sir Oswald Mosley (played by Sam Claflin) is the Minister of the Duchy of Lancaster, the deputy to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Cabinet adviser to the Prime Minister of Great Britain. He is also the MP for Smethwick, the constituency bordering South Birmingham, Thomas Shelby's constituency. Diana Mitford and Oswald get married at the home of Joseph Gobbels, with Adolf Hitler as guest of honor.

Oswald Mosley is based on the real life person, Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley.

Jimmy McCavern

Jimmy McCavern (played by Brian Gleeson) is the leader of the Billy Boys and a member of the Glasgow razor gang. He is first introduced following the Wall Street Crash and is responsible for the death and crucifixion of Bonnie Gold. McCavern is a cruel man who is not scared to use others to send a message. He left a scarecrow in Tommy's yard with a message for him despite the fact that Charles Shelby could have been injured by the minefield around. Moreover, he murdered Bonnie Gold to send a message to Tommy, showing no remorse for his actions as he strung him up on a cross.

He seems very strongly against Catholics and gypsies, despite his temporary agreement with Thomas Shelby.

Barney Thomason

Barney Thomason (played by Cosmo Jarvis) was a WWI comrade and old friend of Thomas Shelby's . He was admitted to a mental asylum shortly after the war after committing an unknown crime, presumably due to his severe shell-shock and was certified insane.

He served as a sniper in WWI, trained by the Royal Marines. He gained a reputation of being a very skilled marksman, and according to Thomas, never missed a target.

Prone to manic episodes and hearing voices, Barney was only able to be calmed down by Thomas, for whom Barney had deep respect as Thomas was his superior in the War.

Barney was key in the assassination attempt on Oswald Mosley at a rally at Bingley Hall, tasked with sniping him on stage from a lighting control room. However, he was killed with a silenced pistol at point-blank range seconds before taking the shot. His killer remains unknown.

Jack Nelson

Jack Nelson (played by James Frecheville) is an Irish-American gangster with ties to high-level politicians, such as President Roosevelt. He is also the uncle of Gina Gray and the great-uncle of Laurence Gray. His rise to power is described as being very similar to that of Thomas Shelby, thus it is reasonable to assume he grew up in a poor

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