As Peaky Blinders‘ hero hellraiser Arthur Shelby, Paul Anderson is much-loved for the battles he has won alongside his co-star and TV brother Cillian Murphy.
But the 46-year-old actor appears to be facing a new fight – for his health – as friends told MailOnline they are worried he may not be ready when filming for the movie starts in September.
Paul’s wrinkled appearance and gaunt frame has concerned fans who say he is a shadow of his formidable sharp-suited character Arthur Shelby, brother of Birmingham gangland leader Tommy.
But despite worry about his acting career and potential involvement in the Peaky Blinders movie, the wheeler-dealer ticket tout turned actor looked happy in the spring sunshine as he spoke to people on the street as he withdrew cash from an ATM, giving it to a companion.
One local shopkeeper, who counts Paul as a friend, said: ‘It’s heartbreaking. He’s a mess. But his erratic behaviour is causing real problems. He often seems dazed and not with it.
Peaky Blinders takes his top off in the May sunshine in north London – but friends remain worried for him
Paul was seen walking the streets and chatting to locals this week with the filming of the Peaky Blinders movie set to start in September
