When it first premiered on BBC Two (and later moved to BBC One), Peaky Blinders wasn't a massive hit. However, as the series progressed, the ratings jumped to the point where the most recent set of episodes was by far the most watched. Getting added to Netflix helped boost its popularity.
Most subscribers likely see it on Netflix but don't know all that much about the series. That includes the incredibly talented actors who have appeared on the show alongside the main cast. Many of them are stars elsewhere and their roles on Peaky Blinders might have been overlooked by those who aren't already fans.
Noah Taylor
For the most part, Noah Taylor isn't a household name but he's one of those actors who most audience members have likely seen many times over. His most recognizable role is as Locke on Game of Thrones, a character who famously cut off Jaime Lannister's hand.
Taylor has also portrayed Mr. Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and David Helfgott in Shine. On Peaky Blinders, he was around for six episodes during season 2 as Italian gang leader Darby Sabini, a rival for series protagonist Thomas Shelby.
Anya Taylor-Joy
Netflix has been wise in the way they advertise Peaky Blinders. They often use a single image of Anya Taylor-Joy, who is one of the hottest actors working today thanks to her Golden Globe-winning work on Netflix's mega-hit The Queen's Gambit and her upcoming role in Edgar Wright's Last Night in Soho.
The constant advertising displaying her has made it so she doesn't rank higher than some other actors because fans will likely notice who she is. Still, it's great to note that she joined this series in season 5, which is the most recent, playing Gina Gray. Gina is the American wife of Michael, who is making serious power plays within the family.
Charlotte Riley
Similar to Noah Taylor, Charlotte Riley might not be known by everyone by name but she has been a working actor in some impressive movies and television shows since 2007. That includes appearances in Wuthering Heights, Easy Virtue, Edge of Tomorrow, and A Christmas Carol.
Riley debuted on Peaky Blinders during season 2 as May Fitz Carleton. She was a wealthy widow who Tommy Shelby hires to help train his racehorse and they also had a pretty romantic relationship at times. Riley is married to Tom Hardy in real life and they both joined the show around the same time.
Sam Neill
With ratings going up significantly in later seasons, some viewers might have missed the early days of the series. That means they might not be aware that Sam Neill was a major player during that time. Neill is a legendary actor thanks to his roles in Jurassic Park, The Hunt for Red October, and even his indie hit Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
A lot of recent fans saw Neill in a cameo in Thor: Ragnarok. On Peaky Blinders, Neill played Chester Campbell, a police officer who had Thomas Shelby in his sights for the first two seasons. He was also in love with Grace, who went on to marry Tommy, causing a bigger rift between them.
Sam Claflin
This show has cornered the market on talented English actors and one of them is Sam Claflin. He first rose to prominence for his part as Finnick Odair in The Hunger Games franchise before shining in Me Before You, Adrift, and Enola Holmes.
Claflin is one of the later additions to this series. He only joined in season 5 as Sir Oswald Mosley, one of the show's characters based on a real life person. Mosley is a fascist politician and an antagonist who actually gets the best of Thomas Shelby. He is in line to be the main villain of the upcoming final season.
Tommy Flanagan
Tommy Flanagan is another one of those actors who has a lengthy filmography but doesn't often get the leading roles. Regardless, he is one of the most recognizable stars around, mostly for his part as Chibbs on Sons of Anarchy and Mayans M.C. There were also appearances in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Gladiator.
In terms of importance to the main characters on the show, Flanagan plays a key part. He is Arthur Shelby Sr., the patriarch of the Shelby clan, though he has a pretty tumultuous relationship with his children. His character died before he could return in later seasons.
Aidan Gillen
Most audiences have grown to see Aidan Gillen on the screen and immediately not trust whoever he is playing. That's what happens when your most notable role is as Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish on Game of Thrones, whose entire storyline involved him being shady. He also appeared in The Dark Knight Rises, Queer as Folk, and The Wire.
Despite the fact that people can't trust a Gillen character, he proved them wrong on Peaky Blinders. Aberama Gold was loyal to Thomas Shelby, even after his son was tragically murdered. He was a killer for hire who went on to become Polly's lover before he was killed in the most recent episode.
Kingsley Ben-Adir
When he first appeared on Peaky Blinders, there was a good chance that Kingsley Ben-Adir wasn't known to many viewers. He was most famous for his stage work but that changed due to this series and his performance as the iconic Malcolm X in One Night in Miami...
Ben-Adir debuted during season 4 on the series as Ben Younger, a colonel who was investigating fascist and socialist politicians. When he brought Ada Thorne in for questioning, he was the one person to not watch her change clothes. He went on to begin a romantic relationship with her until his death.
Tom Hardy
The most famous actor to not be part of the initial main cast and appear on the series is certainly Tom Hardy. After his debut in Black Hawk Down, he went on to steal scenes in Inception and The Dark Knight Rises, while also becoming a leading man in Bronson, Warrior, Venom, and Mad Max: Fury Road.
First showing up during season 2, Hardy is arguably the highlight on Peaky Blinders as Alfred "Alfie" Solomons. He's the leader of a Jewish gang and his relationship with Thomas is constantly switching from friends to rivals. Everything from his line delivery to his violent tendencies makes him a must-watch character.
Adrien Brody
It's not often that you find a Best Actor Academy Award winner as a guest star on a TV series but Peaky Blinders had one in Adrien Brody. He won the coveted prize for his stellar work in The Pianist but is also well-known for his roles in King Kong, Predators, and various Wes Anderson movies.
During season 4, Brody showed up as Luca Changretta, a mafioso from New York out to get revenge for the death of his family. He proved to arguably be the toughest antagonist for the Peaky Blinders since he was behind the murder of John Shelby and nearly killed Arthur as well.