'They didn't want me to look like a skinny Irish fella': Cillian Murphy on why he gave up 15 years of vegetarianism to star in Peaky Blinders

Published: 09:17 BST, 27 March 2017 | Updated: 10:04 BST, 27 March 2017

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He's famed for his portray of gang leader Tommy Shelby on the hit BBC show, Peaky Blinders.

And proving he is dedicated to his art, Cillian Murphy revealed he ditched 15 years of dedicated vegetarianism so he didn't look like a 'skinny Irish fella' when he assumed the role of his on-screen alter ego.

The actor, 40, explained his personal trainer recommended eating meat to help him bulk up for the first series of the crime drama back in 2013.

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Dedicated: Cillian Murphy has revealed he ditched 15 years of vegetarianism so he didn't look like a 'skinny Irish fella' when he assumed the lead role in Peaky Blinders in 2013

Talking to Mr Porter magazine, the star admitted: 'I was vegetarian for about 15 years. But it was never a moral decision. It was more that I was worried about getting mad cow disease.

'For the first series of Peaky Blinders, they were anxious that I shouldn’t look like a skinny Irish fella, and my trainer recommended meat.'

The actor is usually seen decked out in his dapper 1920s attire on the hit show, but he admitted his own style is very different.

He explained: 'You can’t go wrong with navy. My taste is very much: a good pair of jeans, a good jacket, a good pair of shoes. Well-made things that fit. I’m not adventurous.'

Dapper dude:The actor, 40, explained his personal trainer recommended eating meat to help him bulk up for the first series of the crime drama back in 2013

Although Cillian starred as the creepy Dr. Jonathan Crane in The Dark Knight Rises, he ruled out any chance of taking over the lead role as Batman.

'I don’t think I’m the right physical specimen for Batman... playing the square-jawed hero or the nefarious villain doesn’t really interest me. Humanity falls somewhere in the middle,' he explained.

Cillian is currently in the midst of filming the hotly-anticipated fourth series of Peaky Blinders.

Taking to the streets of Liverpool last week, the actor was seen making an explosive return to set as he sprinted around with a gun in hand.

Fan favourite: Cillian is currently in the midst of filming the hotly-anticipated fourth series of Peaky Blinders (pictured in Liverpool last week)

Filming is expected to take four months, followed by three months of editing - meaning the show could return to BBC Two as early as October this year.

The gangster drama follows the antics of the Romani Peaky Blinders gang and their cunning ring leader Tom Shelby in post-war Birmingham.

The most recent series, which aired in the UK in May last year, was set two years after the second season in 1924 - and followed the gang's attempts to expand internationally.

The fourth series however has been much-anticipated by fans over the last few months, as the final episode of series three saw the family be taken away by police in handcuffs - with their fate unknown.

It's back! Filming is expected to take four months, followed by three months of editing - meaning the show could return to BBC Two as early as October this year