Peaky Blinders Film Reignites Interest in Ruby Shelby's Tragic Story
The recent release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man on Netflix has captivated audiences worldwide, bringing the gritty Birmingham gangster drama back into the spotlight. As fans devour the new cinematic chapter, numerous questions have emerged from the film's plot, particularly concerning the fate of key characters.
Ruby Shelby's Heartbreaking Death Recalled
One of the most poignant queries revolves around Ruby Shelby, portrayed by Heaven-Leigh Clee, the daughter of Tommy Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy. In the film, Tommy claims to see Ruby on the grounds of his decaying mansion and later finds her red scarf on a tree branch, which he tenderly places on a gravestone. This scene has prompted many to revisit the tragic circumstances of her death in the original series.
Warning: This article contains spoilers from the Peaky Blinders television show.
Ruby was the daughter of Tommy and his second wife, Lizzie Shelby, played by Natasha O'Keeffe. Her life was cut short at the tender age of seven due to consumption, also known as tuberculosis, a severe lung disease. The events leading to her illness and death were a central focus of Peaky Blinders season six, depicting the family's anguish and Tommy's desperate attempts to save her.
The Curse of the Sapphire and Its Devastating Impact
Tommy believed that Ruby's illness was linked to a cursed sapphire necklace. This jewel originally belonged to his first wife, Grace Shelby, portrayed by Annabell Wallis, who was tragically assassinated by the Sicilian mafia and the Changretta family. Tommy later gave the sapphire away, setting off a chain of misfortune.
- The sapphire was passed to Romani woman Bethany Barwell, played by Frances Tomelty.
- Bethany then gifted it to her sister, Evadne Barwell, portrayed by Gwynne McElveen.
- Evadne placed the sapphire around her own daughter Connie's neck, and Connie died the following day, as detailed on the Peaky Blinders fandom site.
Following Connie's death, Evadne cursed Tommy for bringing the cursed sapphire into their lives. Ruby began experiencing visions of a grey man and fell ill, while Tommy raced against time to find Esme Shelby, played by Aimee-Ffion Edwards, and Evadne, hoping to offer them gold to lift the curse. Unfortunately, his efforts were in vain.
Tommy's Grief and Quest for Vengeance
Upon returning to the hospital, Tommy discovered that Ruby had passed away. A distraught Lizzie confronted him about his absence during their daughter's critical illness. The sapphire's origins trace back to Russian aristocrat Grand Duke Leon Petrovich Romanov, played by Jan Bijvoetto, who gave it to Tommy as compensation for assassinating Soviet Union refugee Anton Kaledin, portrayed by Richard Brake.
Tommy later learned from Leon's niece, Grand Duchess Tatiana Petrovna, played by Gaite Jansen, that the sapphire was indeed cursed, and she refused to wear it. In a poignant turn of events, Tommy sought revenge for Ruby's death by tracking down and shooting Evadne, highlighting the deep scars left by his loss.
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is currently available for streaming on Netflix, offering fans a new layer to the Shelby family saga while reminding them of the heartbreaking past that continues to shape Tommy's journey.
