Cilian Murphy has made a name as the gangland boss Tommy Shelby in BBC2's Peaky Blinders, but he reveals contempt for his character's signature haircut

Cilian Murphy has made a name as the gangland boss Tommy Shelby in BBC2’s Peaky Blinders, but he reveals contempt for his character’s signature haircut.

The actor, who has starred as Tommy Shelby since 2013, thinks it is ‘crazy’ that people like the style.

He told Shortlist Magazine: “But people like the undercut thing; people go to the barber and ask for a ‘peaky cut’.

“It’s crazy that people like it, it’s not grown on me in four years now. I normally keep my hair long.”

Cillian with his usual longer style (Ian West/PA)

He added the style was initially introduced to stop the spread of hair lice.

“But they do realise the people in turtle-necks in Hackney with this haircut, do they realise it was styled this way to prevent lice? Tell ’em they have got the lice cut, see what they say then,” he said.

Cillian’s latest role is in Christopher Nolan’s war thriller Dunkirk.

Despite the film expected to be a roaring success, the 41-year-old admits he will only watch it once.

Curly Cillian (Matt Crossick/PA)

“I’ll see it once”, he said, adding: “I don’t know anyone who pores over their work because the impulse is always the next – the next piece I do will be the best piece I do. To an actor, nostalgia is death.

“When you look at your work from 10 years ago and think that was the apotheosis, well, you’re f***** really. It’s got to be forward thinking.”