Peaky Blinders Star Paul Anderson showed off a drastic new look while at Comic Con in Paris recently – including a number of cuts on his legs.
The actor, best known for playing Arthur Shelby Jr. in the hit BBC drama, has made headlines for his troubled past outside of the show.
This started in 2023 with complaints of misconduct by a colleague – accusations which the star denied.
Then, on Boxing Day that year, he was caught in possession of crack cocaine and amphetamine after allegedly using drugs in a local toilet.
Since pleading guilty to the charges, Anderson’s acting work has largely dried up, and his character has even been dropped from this year’s spin-off film, The Immortal Man.
The actor has now shocked fans after appearing at a Comic Con event in France, where he appeared with bleached hair and scarred legs.
In the photos taken from Daily MailAnderson could be seen wearing a dark jacket over a white Casablanca T-shirt.
He also wore a pair of cut-off trousers which showed off a series of cuts and bruises on his legs when he sat down to chat with the audience.
His hair was bleached blonde, a stark change from his heavily cropped Peaky Blinders look.
It’s not the first time Anderson’s appearance has alarmed fans, as he previously appeared disheveled in London, weeks after he pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine.
In February 2024, he addressed concerned fans, sharing a selfie from the back of a car.
“Back to work and back on set today,” he wrote in one Instagram story, adding: ‘Thank you for all your love and concern for everyone. I was and have been absolutely flattened by the flu. #nofilter.’
In June 2024, he shared another updatetelling his followers in a video that “there is no history without war”.
He continued: “Take it from me, I have struggled and I struggle today, just like you, and we deal with it.
‘If I can help you deal with your difficulties then let’s do it together, let’s make this the first of many conversations, because you can’t do it alone, you need help.
“And I’ll tell you one more thing, you can help others, in turn, it will help you. It’s called service.
‘So go back my friend, find someone else who is suffering, and no matter how hard it is, help them, because you will find that it will help you more, believe it or not.
‘Remember this, we are amazing. You are incredible.’
Earlier this year, Anderson weighed in the absence of his character from the Immortal Man.
Speaking of LADBiblehe said, ‘Well, what can you do, eh? That’s how it is. I thought I’d leave it to them.’
However, he holds no grudge against the film, nor does creator Steven Knight who wrote it.
Describing The Immortal Man as ‘enormous’, Anderson said: It’s such a powerful thing to do. It’s something you don’t see on TV.’
When asked if this was definitely the end for Arthur Shelby, he added: “I mean, yeah, I think so… It’s not as straightforward as you think. But we’ll see.
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