Actress's 'crazy' return to Peaky Blinders post-baby

Actress Sophie Rundle has candidly shared her experience of returning to work on the final season of Peaky Blinders merely four weeks after giving birth to her first son. She described the undertaking as 'crazy' and a 'very vulnerable exercise'. Rundle, who shares two sons with fiancé Matt Stokoe, emphasized that this demanding return should not be an expectation placed upon mothers.

Speaking on Josh Smith's Great Chat Show, Rundle expressed pride in herself and her family for facilitating the return, highlighting that it provided a crucial 'lifeline back to myself'. She acknowledged the immense effort involved, including support from her partner, family, and the production team.

The actress recounted her 'very strange, weird maternity leave,' noting the vulnerability of being on camera after the profound 'seismic shift' of motherhood. Her first son was four weeks old during the filming of the final series, and her second was around 13 weeks old during the production of the film.

Rundle found it challenging to transition from the protected space of early motherhood back to filming, especially with a camera focused on her during a time of immense personal change. Despite the difficulties, she is grateful that work acted as a way to reconnect with her pre-motherhood self.

She also touched upon the physical and emotional aspects, noting the strangeness of appearing on screen while her body had undergone significant changes post-birth, particularly as her character, Ada Shelby, had not recently given birth. Rundle humorously suggested a ticker tape announcement for her recent postpartum status.

In May 2021, Rundle had previously shared on Instagram that returning to Peaky Blinders four weeks postpartum was the 'most challenging thing I've ever done,' posting a picture of herself changing her baby in her trailer. She also praised her Gentleman Jack co-star Suranne Jones for advocating for her during her pregnancy while filming the second series.