Irish actor Barry Keoghan told Pat Kenny he got the role of Duke Shelby after wishing Cillian Murphy 'Happy Father’s Day'. 

The actor was a guest on the Pat Kenny Show Sunday to discuss his role as Tommy Shelby’s son in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. 

“I was a massive fan of the series,” he told Newstalk.

“I texted Cillian [Murphy] on Father’s Day to wish him a happy Father’s Day. 

“He got back to me and asked me if I wanted to play his son in the Peaky Blinders movie. It was a no brainer. He’s Cillian Murphy, I’d work with Cillian Murphy on anything. 

The 33-year old Summerville actor told Pat Kenny that when Murphy and he were coming home after shooting Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk someone mistook them for father and son. 

Barry Keoghan

Cillian Murphy attends the World Premiere of "Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. Photo by: Shane Anthony Sinclair.

Asked whether he took from his own experience to inform Duke’s character he said “the similarities between him and Vlad definitely resonated with him”.

“I’ve definitely learned that family isn’t necessarily blood”, he told Newstalk.

“I’ve learned that everyone is human, everyone has problems. I can see the similarities between me and Duke in the way that he is crying out for help and has this attitude of “Why me?” and “F the world”. I had all of that growing up. 

“We’re all just trying to at the end of the day - that’s in reference to my parents who weren’t there. When you get older you realise that you’re on a similar journey to your mom in terms of, of, you know, getting better and being sober.

“Once you have a kid, you put yourself in their shoes, there’s a forgiveness in that.”

He explained his relationship to acting as “his desire to tell stories he can put himself into and bring forward a truth and a vulnerability that doesn't feel forced”.

“On paper Duke is Tommy Shelby’s son and he’s a menace”, he told host Pat Kenny. 

“When you’ll watch the movie, it’ll change your perspective on a young menacing lad. It won’t justify his actions, but you’ll see he has a heart and there’s an innocence there.”

“There’s no secret to [my success], I want kids who grew up in disadvantaged areas to know that it's not out of arms reach,” he added. 

“Kids look for approval and assurance. 

“Giving them encouragement when they do something is important. I want to, as much as I can, get involved with communities and use my profile that way rather than just being on Instagram or attending events.”

Peaky Blinders, The Immortal Man opened on Friday in cinemas and is set for release on March 20th on Netflix.