For six seasons, Peaky Blinders turned Thomas Shelby and Grace Burgess into two of television’s most unforgettable characters. Their relationship was complicated, dangerous and ultimately heartbreaking, but the chemistry between Cillian Murphy and Annabelle Wallis helped make their story one of the emotional centers of the series.

Years after the original series ended, however, the two actors have taken very different paths. One became an Oscar-winning leading man and returned to the world of Tommy Shelby, while the other built a career across horror, action and television — and has recently entered a completely new chapter of her personal life.

CILLIAN MURPHY: FROM BIRMINGHAM GANGSTER TO OSCAR WINNER

When Cillian Murphy first became Thomas Shelby, few could have predicted just how far the character would take him.

Murphy had already established himself as one of Ireland’s most respected actors, but Peaky Blinders transformed him into a global star. His portrayal of Tommy — cold, intelligent, ruthless and deeply damaged by war — became synonymous with the actor himself.

Yet Murphy never allowed Shelby to become the only definition of his career.

After Peaky Blinders, he delivered one of the biggest performances of his career as J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. The film became a worldwide phenomenon, and Murphy’s performance earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor at the 96th Oscars in 2024.

The victory represented a remarkable moment for an actor who had spent decades working away from the conventional Hollywood spotlight.

Murphy has also continued to protect his private life. Unlike many major stars, he rarely turns his family life into a public spectacle, preferring to let his work speak for him.

And then came the surprise many Peaky Blinders fans had been waiting for.

Tommy Shelby returned.

In 2026, Murphy reprised the role in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, bringing the character back to the screen several years after the television series concluded. The movie continues the Shelby story and demonstrates just how powerful Murphy’s connection with the character remains.

For Murphy, the journey from Tommy Shelby to an Oscar-winning actor — and then back to Tommy again — is one of the most remarkable chapters in modern television history.

ANNABELLE WALLIS: THE WOMAN BEHIND GRACE BURGESS

Annabelle Wallis’s journey has been very different.

Grace Burgess was introduced as a seemingly ordinary barmaid before her complicated connection to Tommy Shelby gradually transformed her into one of the series’ most important characters. Wallis brought Grace elegance, vulnerability and strength, creating a character whose relationship with Tommy remained memorable long after her story ended.

But Peaky Blinders was only one chapter of Wallis’s career.

Before and during her time on the series, she had already appeared in projects including The Tudors, X-Men: First Class and Pan Am. She later expanded into major Hollywood productions, including Annabelle, The Mummy, Tag, Malignant and Silent Night.

Her role in Annabelle was particularly significant. The horror film placed Wallis at the center of the Conjuring universe and helped establish her as an actress capable of carrying a major genre movie.

But in 2026, Wallis found herself making headlines for reasons far removed from Grace Burgess.

Her relationship with actor Sebastian Stan has attracted considerable attention, although the couple has consistently tried to protect their privacy. In August 2026, reports confirmed that Wallis and Stan had welcomed their first child together. The couple has not publicly shared extensive details about their newborn, reflecting their decision to keep their family life largely away from the spotlight.

Professionally, Wallis has continued working, with Mercy among her more recent projects.

TWO CAREERS, TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT JOURNEYS

Perhaps the most fascinating part of their stories is how differently Murphy and Wallis evolved after Peaky Blinders.

Murphy went from television crime drama to one of the most prestigious acting honors in the world, before returning to the role that made him a household name.

Wallis, meanwhile, moved between historical drama, horror, action and Hollywood blockbusters while building a quieter life away from the constant attention surrounding the Shelby family.

For fans, though, Cillian Murphy will always carry something of Thomas Shelby with him — just as Annabelle Wallis will forever be associated with Grace Burgess.

Their characters may have belonged to another era, but the impact of their performances continues.

And perhaps that is the greatest legacy of Peaky Blinders: even after six seasons, the story ended on television, but Thomas Shelby and Grace Burgess never truly disappeared.