Brum and get it
PEAKY Blinders actor Harry Kirton has told how he enjoyed filming the show’s violent scenes as his young character steps up to take part in the gangland battles.
The cult drama is famed for the brutality of its Birmingham-based crime family the Shelbys.
And in the fourth series, Harry’s character – 18-year-old Finn, the youngest of the clan – is finally old enough to take part.
Harry said: “Now Finn’s 18 he gets a bit more violent. He isn’t protected any more.”
The young star admitted: “It was fun to film. Those scenes, I can’t help but enjoy. It’s hard to not be involved in violence, being a Shelby. It’s constant.”
Harry, 19, returns alongside Cillian Murphy on Wednesday in the BBC2 hit and he revealed that as the only locally born actor on the show he finds himself helping his s fellow cast members with the accent. ent. He said: “I have people coming oming up on set and asking if they’re y’re saying it right. I say, ‘No, sorry.’ rry.’ “Helen McCrory, who plays ys Polly Gray, does it sometimes es – even though she doesn’t need eed any tips whatsoever. “Sometimes she’ll just ask sk me to speak some of her lines, then she’ll say, ‘Right, I’ve got it.’” ’” But the youngster, who won the role at 15 after an open audition dition in his home town, says he has as “grown grown up” up on the show. how. He said: “I’ve taken aken steps not man many people my age have h had d the pleasure to. “This year I I’ve e really taken on this r role e–I – I don’t like to ca call it t a job. Before, it was l like e two differen different lives. Sch Schoolwork olwork an and other t things ngs were ere pulling me in one direction, acting the other. Luckily my mum and dad were around on set a lot. They helped walk me through it.”
He says co-stars such as Cillian, Joe Cole and Paul Anderson have taken him under their wing. Harry said: “I’m always asking questions – I’m sure they get fed up but I’m like, sorry, I have to learn.”
He added: “I’m more attached to Peaky because I’m a Brummie.
“I don’t want people to think the only thing that ever happened in Birmingham was with gangs and violence.
“But it’s nice there is history about my home city that I get to be part of.”