Peaky Blinders: The True Story Behind The Shelby Family’s Romani Heritage
The Shelby family’s Romani (alternatively spelled as "Romany") heritage plays a large role in Peaky Blinders and is a foundational element of the show’s storyline as well as a defining attribute of many characters. The award-winning series is directed by Steven Knight and has just debuted season 6 in the UK (the U.S. debut is forthcoming), to be followed by a Peaky Blinders movie. Peaky Blinders season 6 delves even further into the Shelby family's Romany heritage, but how much of the Peaky Blinders’ story about the so-called “gypsies” is real?
Set in the early 20th century in Birmingham, the show follows the Shelby family through their criminal dealings and sees them rise to wealthy, powerful aristocrats. The Shelbys are of Irish-Romani descent, referring to themselves and other Romani as “gypsies” in the show. Tommy Shelby, the gang’s leader, along with his siblings, Arthur, John, Ada, and Finn, have Romani on both sides as their paternal aunt, Helen McCrory’s Polly Gray, is the daughter of “gypsy princess,” Birdie Boswell, and their mother comes from the Lee family. Additionally, several of Peaky Blinders’ important characters come from the Shelby family’s “gypsy” ties like Tommy’s close friend, Johnny Dogs, and Aberama Gold (played by Game of Thrones “Littlefinger,” Aidan Gillen), who is Polly’s love interest and Tommy’s hired assassin. John Shelby's wife, Esme, is also a Romany "gypsy" in the show, with her character playing a huge part in Peaky Blinders season 6 because of her Romany heritage and her connection to the Shelby family.
Related: Peaky Blinders: Why Gypsies Don't Mention The Names Of The Dead
When preparing to begin filming Peaky Blinders in 2013, actor Cillian Murphy said (via Independent), “Steve
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