Acting coach reveals why Barry Keoghan sounds weird in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man

Viewers haven’t been impressed with Barry Keoghan’s attempt at a Birmingham accent in ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man,’ and an acting coach has explained the reasons behind its unusual sound.

The latest film follows Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy), a former gangster, during World War II, years after he abandoned his criminal past. Now, his long-lost son, Duke Shelby (Barry Keoghan), leads the gang, and they’ve become a violent presence in the city.

When Shelby Sr.’s son becomes entangled in a dangerous Nazi scheme threatening Britain, the powerful patriarch returns to reclaim control of his empire. The movie was shown in select cinemas before becoming available on Netflix starting March 20th.

Viewers who watched ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ in theaters have commented on Barry Keoghan’s unusual accent in the film, and the reason behind it has now been revealed.

Barry Keoghan’s accent in Peaky Blinders sounds off because of his “slight Irish lilts”

Viewers haven’t been impressed with Barry Keoghan’s accent in “The Immortal Man.” Many took to social media to express their disappointment, with one X user calling it “atrocious” and a Reddit commenter describing it as “abysmal,” adding that it made some scenes uncomfortable to watch.

Acting coach Sarah Valentine explained that Barry Keoghan’s Birmingham accent in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man doesn’t quite work because his natural Irish speech patterns are still noticeable to viewers, even though he’s hitting the correct accent notes.

Valentine told LADbible that when listening to the clip, he noticed subtle hints of an Irish accent in the way people spoke, specifically in the rhythm and tone of their voices.

It’s not surprising, considering Barry Keoghan is Irish and from Dublin. Even if an actor masters the correct vowel sounds, subtle patterns in their natural speech can still be noticeable.

She explained that the Birmingham accent presents a challenge for actors due to its unique rhythm. Achieving an authentic sound requires precise vowel sounds, speech timing, and a natural flow. Even small deviations in these areas can make the accent sound incorrect or like another accent entirely.

The acting coach also pointed out that accents used to vary much more and didn’t sound like they do today.

Historically, people’s accents weren’t as fixed or uniform as we often imagine when watching shows or movies set in the past. Accents were probably much more varied and changed more easily.

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2026-03-12 13:50