Neil Maskell Reveals the Secrets Behind His Intense Portrayal of Winston Churchill in Peaky Blinders Season 6

A Bold New Take on a British Icon

Winston Churchill is one of the most towering figures in British history. His stirring wartime speeches and unshakable resolve defined an era. Yet in the gritty, stylized world of BBC's Peaky Blinders, Churchill is not yet the bulldog prime minister. He is a younger, more cunning political operator—a man who trades favors with gangsters and plays dangerous games. Enter actor Neil Maskell, who steps into the role for the show's explosive sixth and final season.

According to the exclusive details in Screenshot (550).png, Maskell knew he had enormous shoes to fill. Two previous actors—Andy Nyman and Richard McCabe—had already portrayed Churchill in earlier seasons. But Maskell brought something entirely his own: a raw, almost flirtatious energy that electrifies his scenes with Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy).

Preparing Like a Method Detective

Maskell did not take the role lightly. In fact, he treated the character as if he were starring in a show called “Churchill.” The actor devoured two of the most definitive biographies: Andrew Mitchell's multi-volume life of Churchill and Martin Gilbert's classic single-volume work. “Luckily, I only had to go up to the mid-30s age,” Maskell joked, “so it was only sort of halfway through each of those books—but still a couple thousand pages of biography.” He also watched countless hours of Churchill's speeches and archival footage.

But Maskell knew he could never look exactly like the famous statesman. So he made a crucial decision: no impersonation. “My voice is about an octave lower than Churchill's,” he explained. “I didn't want to worry about pitching my voice up. Instead, I concentrated on the slight impediments in his speech.” Physicality was another minefield. Churchill had a very pronounced, hunched walk and distinctive mannerisms. Maskell had to find a medium between caricature and authenticity—balancing the theatrical tone of Peaky Blinders with genuine human behavior.

The Flirtatious Dance with Tommy Shelby

One of the most surprising revelations from Screenshot (550).png is the dynamic between Maskell's Churchill and Murphy's Tommy Shelby. “The scenes between me and Cillian had almost a flirtation, really—a flirtatious theatricality that meant we enjoyed it,” Maskell said. “We had a bit of fun in almost making that relationship quite an amorous one. Not that Cillian's leaning too far in that direction, but I could.” This subtle tension adds a layer of psychological intrigue to their political cat-and-mouse game. In the world of Peaky Blinders, power is often seduction.

Why Churchill Fits Peaky Blinders' Universe

The BBC/Netflix series is set in Birmingham between the World Wars, a time of political upheaval, criminal empires, and shifting alliances. Churchill, as Home Secretary in the 1920s, was involved in real historical events that Peaky Blinders dramatizes—including the fight against the Irish Republican Army and the General Strike of 1926. The show's creator Steven Knight has always blended fact with fiction, and Churchill is a perfect wild card. He appears in Season 5 twice, then returns for four episodes in Season 6.

For those unfamiliar with the broader historical canvas: Churchill's early career was marked by controversy and near-ruin. After the disastrous Gallipoli campaign in World War I, his political reputation was shattered. He spent years in the political wilderness, rebuilding through sheer determination and literary work. By the late 1920s, he was back in the cabinet—but his views on India, tariffs, and the rise of Nazism made him a divisive figure. This complex, ambitious, flawed Churchill is exactly who Peaky Blinders needs: a man willing to work with criminals to achieve his goals.

Behind the Scenes: The Work and the Payoff

Maskell admitted the role required immense effort for what ultimately amounted to only a few days of filming. “It was a hell of a lot of work,” he said. But the result is a performance that stands out even in a star-studded final season. Alongside Murphy, the cast includes Paul Anderson, Sophie Rundle, Ned Dennehy, Anya Taylor-Joy, and the late Benjamin Zephaniah. The final six episodes pick up after the devastating events of Season 5, with Tommy Shelby facing threats on multiple fronts—including from Churchill himself.

Maskell's preparation also extended beyond the written page. He watched classic Churchill portrayals—from Robert Hardy to Gary Oldman's Oscar-winning turn in Darkest Hour—but deliberately avoided slavish imitation. “I didn't want to attempt an impersonation because it would have felt slightly ridiculous,” he said. Instead, he focused on the essence of Churchill: the man's relentless ambition, his tactical mind, and his ability to charm even his enemies.

What to Expect from Peaky Blinders Season 6

The final season premieres June 10 on Netflix, and fans are already buzzing. Will Tommy Shelby survive? Will Churchill betray him? The show has always been about the cost of power, and Season 6 promises to deliver a brutal, emotional conclusion. Maskell's Churchill is not just a historical cameo—he is a key player in Tommy's endgame. Their scenes crackle with tension, wit, and a dangerous undercurrent of mutual respect.

For Maskell, the experience was both exhausting and exhilarating. “You've got to research it like you're in a program called 'Churchill,'” he emphasized. That level of dedication shows. His performance is not a caricature but a living, breathing human being—flawed, magnetic, and utterly believable in the heightened world of Peaky Blinders.

Neil Maskell's Other Work: The Bull Connection

While promoting Peaky Blinders, Maskell also has a brutal new action film called Bull hitting theaters and on-demand on April 5. In that movie, he plays a father seeking vengeance against a crime boss who destroyed his family. It's a far cry from the boardrooms and back alleys of Churchill's world, but Maskell brings the same intensity. Whether he's playing a historical titan or a working-class avenger, he disappears into the role. That's the mark of a true craftsman.

As the curtain falls on Peaky Blinders, Neil Maskell's Winston Churchill will be remembered as one of the series' most surprising and compelling characters. He took a risk—embracing the theatricality while digging deep into history—and the gamble paid off. In a show full of charismatic villains and antiheroes, Churchill holds his own. And that's no small feat.

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