PLAYING A BLINDER
HOLLYWOOD STAR ADRIEN BRODY TELLS US ABOUT JOINING THE GANGSTER DRAMA…
We only got the faintest glimpse of him in last week’s opening episode, but it was more than enough to know that the arrival of Luca Changretta can’t mean anything good for Tommy Shelby and the Peaky Blinders. It’s definitely good news for viewers, though, as he’s played by Oscar-winning Hollywood star Adrien Brody – and you don’t hire an actor of that calibre if the character isn’t going to make some waves. But when Inside TV spoke to Adrien about making his UK television debut in the series, he was keeping coy about the exact nature of Luca’s plans…
“You won’t get any spoilers from me!” he chuckles. “It’s funny, because I’ve been sworn to secrecy, but then we had an on-set visit and the journalists were more aware than I thought, and I was somewhat guarded with what I could reveal. But what I can say is that there are some great parallels as men between Tommy and Luca – they’re quite similar in many ways, and in that sense
I found it really intriguing.”
Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight wrote the character of Luca with Adrien specifically in mind, and the actor tells us that he was thrilled to take on the role.
“It’s a really lovely thing when someone who’s as talented as Steven Knight is considering you early on, or even at the inception of the character,” he shares. “I think that’s what actors want to hear when they go into the meeting. I’m very honoured, and I agree with him that it’s a character I’m right to play and should be playing!”
Adrien really enjoyed getting the chance to immerse himself in the world of 1920s England – “They dressed well then, even the working man’s clothing was very stylish” – however, there was one particular aspect of the period that he decided to approach a little differently.
“Everybody smokes like a fiend in this show,” explains Adrien. “And I thought that it would be interesting if I incorporated chewing a
THERE ARE SOME GREAT PARALLELS BETWEEN TOMMY AND LUCA”
toothpick or a match in lieu of a cigarette, as a bit of a discipline within Luca. He’s someone that would probably enjoy a cigar, but I tried to rein him in, to give him his own battles within already – to know a compulsion or an addictive behaviour and try to resist that, so that was very much part of his strength.”
Anybody who comes into the show as an enemy of the Shelbys has to anticipate that they might not necessarily become a favourite with Peaky Blinders’ viewers – but is there a chance that we might find something to like about Luca? Adrien thinks it’s not impossible.
“Really, he’s a family man, and a man with integrity,” grins the star. “He may not operate on a level that is appropriate within society, yet on some level there is a real love and respect for family – not only his own, but others. He’s disciplined and he’s thoughtful and he’s a very driven person – those are all good qualities. It’s just how you choose to implement your discipline!”