Joe Cole says Peaky Blinders violence is 'cartoonish'

Joe Cole thinks video games are “worse” than ‘Peaky Blinders’ for violence.

The 33-year-old actor played high-ranking career criminal John Selby in the gangster drama set at the start of the 20th century which is known for its violent scenes.

However, Cole says the the violence that is depicted on screen is “cartoonish” and he doesn't think it would have any effect on audiences.

He said: “[The violence on ‘Peaky Blinders’] is cartoonish. I don’t think people watching it are going to go out and stab people. If you put up with any of these video games that young people are playing now, they’re way worse.”

The acclaimed actor left his role as John Selby in 2017 and is now taking on the role of Iver Iversen in ‘Against the Ice’, a two hander for Netflix with ‘Game of Thrones’ star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau based on the true story of a Danish expedition to Greenland in 1909 to ward off an American territorial claim.

The drama was shot in Iceland during the 2020 lockdown and Cole revealed that he would spend his days off from shooting wandering into the wilderness.

Speaking to The Times Saturday Review, he said: “None of the tourists were there, so it was absolutely empty. It’s a magical place. Black beaches, glaciers, just extraordinary. I sent Nikolaj my WhatsApp location and just went off.”

Joe shares a name with retired Premier League footballer Joe Cole and has spilled that the moniker has led to some confusion and told of how a postman had expected the sports star to answer the door.

The 'Gangs of London' star said: “A postman came to the door [and said] ‘Oh, man, I thought you were going to be that footballer. I thought you were going to be famous. I was thinking, ‘He ain’t living round here, is he?' "