Cillian Murphy receives first major BAFTA nomination of his career for final season of Peaky Blinders

Cillian Murphy's final depiction of Tommy Shelby has earned him his first ever BAFTA nomination.

His work on the sixth season has seen the Irish actor cop a nomination in the Leading Actor category.

We believe it was Lizzo who once said: "It's about damn time."

We're just thrilled the legendary actor is finally getting the recognition he deserves for the broody, dark, and thrilling gangster drama.

His only previous nomination from the British Academy Film Awards came all the way back in 2006, when he was in the running for the Rising Star prize.

He shared the category with Emily Blunt, Naomie Harris, and Ben Whishaw.

Murphy lost that one to the peerless Eva Green, so it was always going to be a tough category to take home.

BBC

But this year he will be facing down another BAFTA first-time nominee.

Who is, can you believe it, Gary Oldman.

Oldman gained a nod for his work on the brilliant Apple TV show Slow Horses.

He is widely considered to have pretty much mastered the art of acting, so it is going to be another race to the finish for Murphy.

Plus, he'll face off with Ben Whishaw for the second time at the BAFTAS, with the 42-year-old nominated for his work on medical drama This Is Going To Hurt.

Oh, and Martin Freeman for his role onThe Responder, Chaske Spencer for Prime Video's The English, and Taron Egerton for his work on the Apple TV+ hit Black Bird.

So it looks like it's going to be a tough run for Murphy yet again.

But, if the 46-year-old has taught us anything during his time playing Tommy Shelby, if you hit something with enough gusto, panache, a bit of a plan, and a pinch of luck, well, things may just work out after all.

BBC

Murphy secured Peaky Blinders' only nomination for the final sixth season of the epic show set in the rag tag streets of Birmingham, so finger's crossed he can pull through for the team.

Other first-time BAFTA TV Award nominees include Daniel Radcliffe for his work on the zany biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.

You can see the full list of BAFTA TV nominees here.