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Peaky Blinders actor Joe Cole revealed on Friday that he is ‘somewhere’ on the neurotypical spectrum.
Joe, 35, portrayed John Shelby, the younger brother of central character Tommy Shelby, on Peaky Blinders from 2013 to 2017.
Missing out on the last two series which saw a huge increase in viewership, Joe left Peaky Blinders to pursue lead roles – and earned himself the British Independent Film Award for Best Actor in 2018.
On Friday, Joe, who previously enjoyed stints on The Bill, Holby City, and cult teen drama Skins, opened up to The Times about his road to acting.
He said: ‘I’m somewhere on the neurotypical spectrum. I found it hard to focus on my coursework and doing the work required to get to university. Drama and theatre studies was a different matter. That gave me the fire in my belly to go and pursue something else.’
Peaky Blinders actor Joe Cole, 35, revealed on Friday that he is ‘somewhere’ on the neurotypical spectrum
Joe’s Peaky Blinders co-star Helen, who played his character John Shelby’s (second from left) Aunt Polly (fourth from right), died from breast cancer in 2021 at the age of 52
Joe also spoke about his Peaky Blinders co-star Helen McCrory who died in 2021 from breast cancer at the age of 52.
Helen, married to Damian Lewis, portrayed battleaxe Aunt Polly on the series, aunt to the Shelby brothers.
Joe said: ‘The people who burn the brightest in this world may be the people who are taken too soon. It’s heartbreaking. You felt like you had to be on your toes around her, in a good way.
He added: ‘She was amazing with my little brother, Finn. Peaky Blinders was his first acting role. I know they were very close. She left a real mark on the world. I assumed everyone was as charismatic and funny as her, but as I’ve gone through the industry I’ve realised: “Oh, wait, no, that was just Helen.”‘
Joe’s character John was killed off in series four of Peaky Blinders, but there is still a chance he could return to television screens as a film adaptation is imminent.
In June, it was confirmed that Peaky Blinders‘ original writing and directing team will be returning alongside Cillian Murphy (Tommy Shelby) for the Netflix film adaptation of the hit British series which wrapped in 2022 after six series.
Cillian, 48, will be reprising his role as Thomas Shelby in the period crime drama, set in late 1910s to early 1930s Birmingham, with the show’s creator Steven Knight and Tom Harper again writing and directing respectively.
Netflix confirmed the news on X with a photograph of the script, while the Oscar winning actor told Deadline: ‘It seems like Tommy Shelby wasn’t finished with me…
In June, it was confirmed that Peaky Blinders ‘ original writing and directing team will be returning alongside Cillian Murphy (Tommy Shelby) for the Netflix film adaptation
Cillian, 48, will be reprising his role as Thomas Shelby (pictured) in the period crime drama, set in late 1910s to early 1930s Birmingham – after the series wrapped in 2022
‘It is very gratifying to be recollaborating with Steven Knight and Tom Harper on the film version of Peaky Blinders. This is one for the fans.’
Tom shared: ‘When I first directed Peaky Blinders over 10 years ago, we didn’t know what the series would become, but we did know that there was something in the alchemy of the cast and the writing that felt explosive.
‘Peaky has always been a story about family – and so it’s incredibly exciting to be reuniting with Steve and Cillian to bring the movie to audiences across the world on Netflix.’
While Steven added: ‘I’m genuinely thrilled that this movie is about to happen. It will be an explosive chapter in the Peaky Blinders story. No holds barred. Full-on Peaky Blinders at war.’
