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Most of us recognize Tommy Shelby’s icy gaze and impeccably tailored hats. Yet, you might’ve skipped one of Peaky Blinders’ most substantial presences of Winston Churchill. Certainly, the legendary British statesman appeared sporadically throughout Shelby’s history. He was depicted by not a single, not a duo, but a triad of diverse actors. One of them was fully hidden under heavy prosthetics.
Winston Churchill Was Cast Thrice In Peaky Blinders
While the Shelby gang made headlines and bodies disappear, Winston Churchill quietly shaped the bigger picture behind the scenes. But unlike Tommy’s role, Churchill’s face kept modifying. First, Andy Nyman brought him in during season 1. Then Richard McCabe stepped in for season 2. Finally, Neil Maskell took over for the final stretch. He was completely unrecognizable beneath some top-tier prosthetic work.
We know that back in season 1, Churchill wasn’t the wartime icon yet. Still, he had enough pull to send Inspector Campbell (played by Sam Neill) chasing after the Shelbys. Andy Nyman handled this early version of Churchill, popping up in three episodes before the show switched gears.
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Neil Maskell joins the cast as Winston Churchill in #PeakyBlinders Series 5. Starts this Sunday at 9pm on @bbcone. pic.twitter.com/8Q5hSzUlf0
— Peaky Blinders (@ThePeakyBlinder) August 23, 2019
