Paul Anderson-Arthur Shelby, Biography

Paul Anderson, born on 12 February 1978, is an English actor whose presence commands attention on both film and television. He rose to prominence portraying Arthur Shelby Jr. in Peaky Blinders, the gritty saga of post–World War I Birmingham. His intensity carried over to the silver screen, where he brought Mr. Anderson to life in The Revenant (2015) and embodied the calculating Sebastian Moran in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Each role reveals Anderson’s talent for inhabiting complex, often dark characters, leaving a lasting mark on audiences worldwide.

Paul Anderson, Age

Anderson, who played Arthur Shelby in Peaky Blinders, is currently 47 years old as he was born on 19 November 1978.

Paul Anderson, Career

Paul Anderson’s path to acting was anything but conventional. After years spent as a ticket scalper and an aspiring musician, he decided in the mid-2000s to follow his passion and enrolled at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. He began his craft on the stage, performing in plays by his friend Gregory Burke, and made his screen debut in Burke’s critically acclaimed 2014 film ’71. His first leading role came in the 2009 British movie The Firm, signaling the emergence of a commanding new talent.

Anderson continued to carve his niche with a memorable turn as the English military sharpshooter Sebastian Moran in Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows (2011), but his true breakthrough arrived in 2013 when he was cast as Arthur Shelby in the BBC Two series Peaky Blinders. As the fierce and complex gangster navigating post–World War I Birmingham, Anderson captivated audiences and solidified his place in television history.

Since then, his career has spanned major films, including Ron Howard’s In the Heart of the Sea, Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s The Revenant, and the dark western Brimstone (2016). On 1 February 2024, he even appeared in a promo trailer for the much-anticipated undisputed heavyweight boxing match between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, showing that his presence commands attention both on and off the screen.

Arthur Shelby, Crack And Cocaine

Paul Anderson hails from Kennington, South London, a place that shaped his early years before he rose to prominence on stage and screen. In January 2024, he faced legal trouble when he was found guilty of crack cocaine possession and fined £1,345, a moment that reminded the public that even celebrated actors navigate the complexities and challenges of life beyond the spotlight.

Paul Anderson-Arthur Shelby, Height and Weight

Compared to his Peaky Blinders brother, Tommy Shelby, Paul Anderson is 1.77m tall.
Paul Anderson, known for his portrayal of Arthur Shelby in Peaky Blinders, stands around 5 feet 9½ inches (1.77 m) tall, with a weight near 70 kilograms (154 lbs), though he adjusts his physique for various roles. On screen, Arthur often appears leaner, a reflection of the character’s struggles with opium addiction, giving him the gaunt, hardened look that defines his presence in the series.

Paul Anderson-Arthur Shelby, Net Worth

Paul Anderson, an English actor with a net worth of $2 million, has built a career defined by intensity and versatility. He is best known for his commanding portrayal of Arthur Shelby in Peaky Blinders, the television series that ran from 2013 to 2014 and solidified his place in the spotlight. Beyond Shelby, Anderson has delivered memorable performances in recurring roles on Silent Witness (2007), The Promise (2011), Top Boy (2013), and The Great Train Robbery (2013), proving his ability to inhabit a wide range of characters across both television and film.