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Peaky Blinders' Paul Anderson opens up on insecurity and self-doubt struggles

13 June 2024 , 21:07
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Peaky Blinders
Peaky Blinders' Paul Anderson opens up on insecurity and self-doubt struggles

Peaky Blinders' Paul Anderson has laid his insecurity and self-doubt struggles on the line as he prepares to return to filming.

The actor who is known for playing Arthur Shelby Jr in the BBC drama has been spotted looking under the weather a number of times this year, promoting fans to raise concerns about his health. The actor then appeared dishevelled wandering the streets just weeks before he's due to start shooting the much-hyped Peaky Blinders film.

It came after Paul pleaded guilty to charges earlier this after he was found to have the Class A drug, crack cocaine, Class B amphetamines and two Class C prescription substances in his possession. He says he's put all that behind him and spoke openly about his problems online.

In an Instagram clip today, he addressed his state on mind and told fans: "Dissatisfaction with ones talent is the fundamental quality of a true artist. That is a statement from a writer called Chekhov. So if you are having self doubt, well welcome to the club, because I can't act. And every time I do, I wait for a tap on the shoulder saying, "sorry son, you are in the wrong game, go home."'

Peaky Blinders' Paul Anderson opens up on insecurity and self-doubt struggles qhidqxiqdriruprwThe troubled actor candidly discussed being 'insecure' and not 'believing' in himself (boyceyboycey/Instagram)
Peaky Blinders' Paul Anderson opens up on insecurity and self-doubt strugglesPaul Anderson has come out fighting with filming due to start (BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd./Robert Viglasky)

He went on to say on the platform: "Every true artist feels the same, so what that tells me is you know what you are doing. Look it up, Anton Chekhov. I used to remember it word for word because it rang out when I read it, because I too felt like I didn't know what I was doing.

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"I struggled with self confidence, and insecurity and self-doubt. Those are the fundamental qualities of every true talent. If you think you are great, then you are wrong, you are disillusioned. Let other people tell you are, then maybe one day you'll believe it yourself," he told his followers.

The forthcoming Peaky Blinders movie - being filmed in the West Midlands – is due to start shooting in September. The series' creator, Steven Knight, told Birmingham World that Oppenheimer star, Cillian Murphy, was set to reprise his role as Thomas Shelby, sending the show's fans into a frenzy.

His participation was called into question when it was reported that police had found Anderson with a young man and a 17-month-old baby. They took the TV star to a nearby police station, where they found crack cocaine and a wrap of brown powder - later found to be amphetamines - plus diazepam and pregabalin.

During an interview, he answered "no comment" but tested positive for opiates and cocaine, but not crack cocaine, the court heard. Anderson's defence lawyer claimed he couldn't resist acting like his gangster character who fans will know takes drugs on the BBC show.

In mitigation, his lawyer reportedly told the court: “You will recognise the defendant from a very intense part that he has played in a recent television programme. He is often recognised and does his best to please fans of the show by slipping into character. He was recognised that Boxing Day and tried to play up for these people. And because of the lifestyle he leads people often give him inducements.”

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