Anya Taylor-Joy Names Her Iconic Peaky Blinders Villain The “Worst Character She’s Ever Played” As Franchise Returns On Netflix

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Be warned, this article contains spoilers for the show Peaky Blinders. Anya Taylor-Joy says the character she played in the series was the most difficult and unpleasant of her career, and she’s openly discussing why.

Peaky Blinders was a popular British drama featuring a talented cast, including Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy, and the late Helen McCrory. The show is set in Birmingham after World War I and follows the Shelby family, a powerful gang known as the Peaky Blinders, as they navigate a world of crime and try to establish their dominance.

During an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Taylor-Joy discussed her previous acting roles, including one her family feels strongly about, and what she considers her most challenging character to date. She played Gina Gray, the ex-wife of Michael Gray and mother of Laurence Gray. While Michael found love with his new wife in the U.S., Gina is constantly scheming to take control of the Shelby family’s business.

Peaky Blinders is incredibly popular in Argentina. I think the character I played on the show was possibly the worst I’ve ever done, but surprisingly, they really enjoy it there.

Gina, played by Taylor-Joy, schemed to take down Tommy by manipulating his trusting nephew. Her goal was to kill Tommy, paving the way for Michael – and eventually herself – to take control. However, her plan fails, and tragically, Michael dies in the process, leaving Gina’s fate and the future of the Shelby family uncertain.

Many viewers of Peaky Blinders consider Gina to be one of the show’s biggest villains, ranking her alongside characters like Inspector Campbell, Luca Changretta, and Oswald Mosley. While Michael Gray also bears responsibility for the conflict, fans believe Gina’s influence significantly worsened the feud with Tommy Shelby, and it might have been prevented without her constant pushing.

Cillian Murphy is reprising his role as Tommy Shelby in a new Netflix film, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, set during the early days of World War II. The movie centers on Tommy’s efforts to safeguard his family and secure his legacy. The Immortal Man is currently streaming on Netflix, and fans can also look forward to a new Peaky Blinders sequel series, though a release date hasn’t been announced yet.

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2026-03-21 18:41