Barry Keoghan reveals Fathers Day text to Cillian Murphy bagged him Peaky Blinders role
He also told us he busted his knuckles trying to impress Cillian on set
Last updated 9th Mar 2026
Following its release in cinemas last week, the Peaky Blinders movie The Immortal Man has been a hot topic — especially with Barry Keoghan taking on the role of Tommy's long-lost son Duke. Unsurprisingly, the popular Irishman (famed for playing Oliver Quick in Saltburn) scrubs up well as a Peaky Blinder, even nailing the iconic Brummie accent.
And now he's revealed in an exclusive interview with KISS Breakfast that he bagged the role after dropping a sweet Fathers Day text to Cillian Murphy, who plays king pin Tommy Shelby.
The BAFTA Award-winner told presenters Tyler West and Chloe Burrows: "I was just checking in, it happened to be Fathers Day. I just text him 'Happy Fathers Day' and he went 'Oh thanks man' and then 'would you like to play my son Duke in the movie?'.
"And I went 'yeah...it's a no brainer'."
Barry went on to reveal he then busted his knuckles trying to impress Cillian on his first day on set: "I busted my knuckles open because I started punching the ground for real, first day, trying to impress Cillian Murphy.
"So I started punching, trying to rev myself up in the scene, to go against my dad. And I punch it, and it goes through the mud and it hits the gravel. And I keep doing it over and over.
"And I go to Cillian and it's busted. And he's like 'ah man, you don't have to do that'."
The 33-year-old also revealed he often played video games between scenes, sometimes leaving his co-stars waiting on set: "Playing the PlayStation in my trailer a lot... Like, yeah yeah... 10 minutes, like literally, and they're all waiting on set. Not to sound like an absolute whatever... I don't leave people waiting on set.
"I love FIFA. I have this PSP and I have The Simpsons Hit and Run on it. I love Pokémon as well — FireRed. I'm a big gamer, you know, but like I just lose interest. I'll be halfway through a game and I could be winning as well, and I'm like, I don't want to play this."
Listen to the full interview on KISS below
Barry also spoke about the responsibility he felt, joining such an iconic show — and playing the new big dog in town: "I mean, coming into that show is nerve-wracking. It's such a fan base and you want to impress and you want to, pay kind of respect to what's been, but I think I wanted to be a bit bold in the sense of, even with the costume, like adding in my little gemstones on my hat and something that you wouldn't really do, or touch, is the hat!
"So I wanted to be bold and add, sort of like a new, something youthful and all that. But yeah, working with Cillian and seeing Tommy Shelby walk towards you is quite a thing."
He then told us the finer details he considered for the role, even trying to imitate Tommy Shelby's iconic walk:
"I was sort of trying to, you know, get his voice similar to his dad's. And from what he's heard about his dad, his dad hasn't been around. So sort of echoes of, you know, your dad used to say it like this or your dad used to do that.
"So I wanted sort of an imitation to come across. In a way, even with his walk, I wanted to look like I was trying to be Tommy Shelby.
"And then when I was with my dad, Tommy, to be very boy-like and very, drop at the shoulder and vulnerable and sort of just looking up."
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is in selected cinemas now, and will be available to stream on Netflix from 20th March.
How to listen to KISS
You can listen to KISS across the UK on FM, DAB+, online, downloading the free Rayo app and through your Smart Speaker.
Now read:
Peaky Blinders creator reveals must-watch episodes as The Immortal Man arrives in cinemas
KSI to front new doc charting his takeover of Dagenham & Redbridge FC
Your ultimate guide to MAFS Australia series 13 as it lands in the UK