Peaky Blinders star Paul Anderson took to Instagram on Tuesday to address fans’ concerns over his change in appearance, a week after he was spotted looking disheveled.
Sharing a photo of himself on the set of an unnamed film project in London’s Soho, the actor, 48, said: “Back to work and back on set today.”
He added: ‘Thank you for all your love and concern towards everyone. I was and have been absolutely devastated by the flu. #Unfiltered.’
Paul seemed far removed from his TV character Arthur Shelby when he stepped out in London last Wednesday.
She had wrapped herself in a thick cream fleece and a leopard-print hoodie along with jeans and sneakers while purchasing a pastry at a bakery.
Peaky Blinders star Paul Anderson took to Instagram on Tuesday to address fans’ concerns about his appearance after he was photographed looking very different to his usual self – he said he’s been suffering from the flu.
Peaky Blinders star Paul Anderson had looked far away from TV character Arthur Shelby on a day out in London last Wednesday, a month after admitting possession of cocaine.
Paul, portrayed as Arthur in the hit BBC drama, was with a friend and a baby on Boxing Day when police found the Class A drug and a pipe used to smoke it.
The outing came after Paul pleaded guilty to possession of crack cocaine and amphetamines, after spending the day in the pub on Boxing Day in London.
The TV star was with a friend and a baby when police found the Class A drug and a pipe used to smoke it.
Paul admitted possessing it, as well as class B amphetamines and two class C prescription substances, when he appeared in court in January.
The creators of The Peaky Blinders, which co-stars Oscar nominee Cillian Murphy as Anderson’s on-screen brother Tommy, are developing the film’s climax, but the conviction could have a “significant impact” on the film, a source said. that moment.
‘[Screenwriter] Steven Knight is still writing the script,” the source said. “But this conviction will create huge problems, as it will be very difficult to have a Peaky Blinders movie without such a pivotal character, and it will be difficult for him to reprise the role as if nothing had happened. “.
‘The third option would be to cancel everything. “I think it’s most likely going to move forward and only Steven knows which characters will appear.”
Anderson was caught after a drinker at his premises in Hampstead, north-west London, told the pub manager he smelled crack cocaine fumes coming from the disabled toilet after the actor left.
The pub manager called the police, who found Anderson “drunk” nearby with a youth and a 17-month-old baby, Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court heard. He was taken to a police station where officers found crack cocaine, a brown powder wrapper that turned out to be amphetamines plus diazepam and pregabalin, prosecutor Kevin Kendridge said.
Peaky Blinders characters: Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy), John Shelby (Joe Cole), Arthur Shelby (Anderson)
Anderson, who also appeared alongside Tom Hardy in the 2015 Kray brothers biopic Legend, answered “no comment” to all questions during his interview, but later tested positive for opiates and cocaine, not crack, he heard the court.
He pleaded guilty to all four drug charges during the hearing.
Anderson spoke only to plead guilty and confirm his identity and address at a £1.2 million property in north-west London.
Moira MacFarlane, defending, said that when Peaky Blinders fans recognized Anderson, he couldn’t resist taking on the role of pugilist Arthur, who is frequently seen taking drugs on the show.
“You will recognize the defendant from the very intense role he played in a recent television programme,” Ms MacFarlane told magistrates.
“He is often recognized and does his best to please fans of the show by getting into character.
A casually dressed Anderson attended a VIP film screening of The Gentleman in December 2019.
‘He was recognized that Boxing Day and tried to play for these people. And because of the lifestyle he leads, people often give him incentives.
Mrs MacFarlane insisted Anderson, who was fined a total of £1,345, had not been smoking crack cocaine, but admitted: “He has found himself in an unfortunate situation and should have had the strength to say no.”
In January it emerged that producers were investigating his conduct on set after a complaint from a colleague. It is not known what the allegation relates to, but sources close to Anderson denied any wrongdoing and told The Sun they were confident an investigation would exonerate him.
Anderson, who recently starred in the Netflix movie Lift, was expected to play a pivotal role in the Peaky Blinders movie, which was set to begin production this summer. The drama set in Birmingham between the two world wars follows the rise of the Shelby crime family.
Cillian Murphy plays Anderson’s on-screen brother Tommy in Peaky Blinders, pictured at the BAFTAs last week.