104
PLAYINGABLINDER!
‘WOMENHAVE
ALWAYSBEEN
STRONG’
W
hen OK! attends the Peaky Blinders
season five premiere in Birmingham,
we’re delighted to find ourselves
talking to leading ladies Sophie
Rundall (who plays Ada Shelby), Natasha
O’Keeffe (Lizzie Shelby) and newcomer Charlene
McKenna. After the BBC phenomenon was
awarded a BAFTA for Best Drama Series in 2018,
the stars can’t wait to fill us in on the fifth series of
the show, which will air later this summer.
Throughout the five series, writer and creator
Steven Knight has undoubtedly crafted a strong
female presence, from the likes of Aunt Polly,
played by Harry Potter actress Helen McCrory,
to the three women in front of us.
Despite recently winning rave reviews for
her role in the BBC’s hit series Gentleman
Jack, when we speak
to Sophie, she’s
charmingly down
to earth and laughs
about how she’d love
to kick off her Jimmy
Choos and swap them
for a comfy pair of
Crocs. ‘This is how
women should be
represented,’ the 31
year old says of her
role in Peaky Blinders.
Natasha, 32, who’s
also been in the hit
show in 2013, shares
two children, aged one
and two – whose names she’s kept under wraps –
with her husband, actor Dylan Edwards. Charlene,
35, who’s engaged to her former Ripper Street co-
star Adam Rothenburg, won Best Actress in 2009
for her role in Irish TV show Raw.
With a glass of champagne in hand, the
three actresses fill us in on the secret to creating
chemistry on screen, being a part of the Peaky
Blinders family and what we can expect from
the new series...
Sophie, was there any cross over between
filming Peaky Blinders and Gentleman Jack?
I finished on Gentleman Jack on the Friday and
started doing Peaky the next day. So on Friday,
I had the centre parting and I was quite shy,
then the next day I came to work as Ada with
red lipstick and a strong Birmingham accent.
It was a weird mix!
How did you and Suranne Jones create such
amazing on-screen chemistry together?
Suranne is absolutely amazing to work with. We
did a lot of talking and rehearsing before we
filmed. We were allowed so much
more time than we’d usually get.What’s the secret to portraying
strong female characters?
Sophie: I think we are strong female
characters [laughs]! This is how
women should be represented. The
reason people like our characters is
because they are so recognisable.
These are your sisters and your wives,
and your mothers and your aunts.
Natasha: Women have always
been strong.
Charlene: Things haven’t changed
but now there’s a voice. We’re being
treated differently in the industry.Charlene, how
did it feel to
join Peaky
Blinders?
It’s intimidating,
but really
familiar and
homely at the
same time.
There’s a lot
of Irish people
so I thought,
oh this is nice
actually [laughs]! I knew
a lot of people – I’ve
worked with the director
four times. Everyone was so welcoming. I’ve
watched back all my scenes. My fiancé loves to
tease me because I keep describing the show as,
‘just exquisite’ [laughs]! He says: ‘No one in real
life talks like that – except you!’Have you started planning your wedding?
Charlene: It’s going well! The wedding will be tiny.
I’ve realised I’m quite shy, which no one believes
because I’m an actress. It’ll be half traditional, half
not. I want the white dress, though!How do you create your on-screen chemisty
with Cillian Murphy, Natasha?
It’s a funny relationship to play. I hope it comes
across that there is some love for each other.
There’s not explosive fireworks of passion all the
time. It’s got its frustrations.What can we expect from the new series?
Sophie: This series is all about Tommy moving
into politics and the repercussions of the
financial crash. He has to take everything he’s
learnt in the series leading up to this.Natasha: We’re moving into the ’30s!
With all their wealth, the family will be
brought back together again – as much as
they hate each other. There’s even more
drama – if that’s even possible!
Charlene: Then I appear, but I’m shrouded
in mystery!Will you ever be able to get your head
around just how huge Peaky Blinders
has become?
Sophie: No! It was my first job and I was
actually quite disappointed afterwards
because I thought every script I would
read would be as good – but they weren’t!
Charlene: It’s such a testament to the
show. Peaky Blinders is a machine that’s building
more and more momentum. It’s insane. As a
new cast member, it’s weird to come into a
show that you’re a huge fan of. I’ve never done
that before. I’m in it – but I’m fan girling at the
same time [laughs]!
‘PEAKY BLINDERS’ RETURNS SOON TO BBC ONE.OK!‘PEAKYBLINDERS’STARS CHARLENE
McKENNASOPHIERUNDALLANDNATASHA
O’KEEFFE TALKTOOK!’SEMILYWHITWAMTWITTER.COM/EMJWHITWAM
PHOTOGRAPHS BY BBC/LOOKOUT POINT/JAY BROOKS,
FLYNETPICTURES.CO.UK, WENN, WIRE IMAGEAbove: Charlene McKenna, Sophie Rundall
and Natasha O’Keeffe. Below right: Sophie
starred opposite Suranne Jones in Gentleman
Jack. Bottom right: Charlene is planning her
Natasha O’Keeffe wedding to Adam Rothenberg
with Peaky
Blinder co-star
Cillian Murphy