Finn Cole: Peaky Blinders, Relationships & Full Facts

If you have watched Peaky Blinders, the name Michael Gray probably still stings. Off-screen, the young London-born actor has quietly built a career beyond the show, landing roles in blockbuster franchises and sparking tabloid curiosity about his personal life — here is a grounded look at the man behind the flat cap.

Born: 9 November 1995 · Place of Birth: Kingston, London, England · Nationality: English · Known for: Michael Gray in Peaky Blinders · Age: 29 (as of 2025)

Six key facts about Finn Cole at a glance:

Are Finn Cole and Florence Pugh together?

The origins of the rumoured relationship

Whispers about Finn Cole and Florence Pugh began circulating in September 2024 when the pair were photographed leaving a party together. The South China Morning Post (international lifestyle outlet) reported the sighting, calling Cole Pugh’s “rumoured new man”. Neither actor commented publicly at that stage, but the tabloid machinery had already started.

Florence Pugh’s past relationships

Pugh was previously in a long-term relationship with actor Zach Braff, which ended in 2022. She has also been linked to Charlie Gooch, though those reports were never confirmed. By early 2025, gossip columns began pairing her name with Cole’s more frequently, though neither side issued a denial or confirmation.

Current status of Finn Cole’s love life

In March 2026, People (celebrity news authority) reported that Pugh had “hard-launched” Cole on Instagram, posting a cosy photo of the two. E! Online (entertainment news site) confirmed the post, calling the relationship “Instagram official”. Despite the online confirmation, neither actor has given a formal interview about their romance, keeping the nature of their bond intentionally private.

The implication: The public confirmation via Instagram, while clear, leaves room for privacy that both actors clearly value.

Why was Finn kicked out of Peaky Blinders?

Character arc of Michael Gray

Michael Gray, played by Finn Cole, began Peaky Blinders as Tommy Shelby’s naive younger cousin. Over five seasons, the character grew ambitious, married Gina (Anya Taylor-Joy), and eventually betrayed the family by siding with the Boston mafia. Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia) notes that Cole played the role across all six series from 2014 to 2022.

Plot reasons for Michael’s expulsion

In season 5, Michael withheld information about a lucrative deal, and by season 6 his betrayal was complete. Tommy Shelby ordered the Blinders to deal with Michael—a brutal end that came during the show’s final season. The expulsion was less a “kick out” than a narrative execution, driven by Michael’s choice to put money over family.

Actor’s perspective on the storyline

Finn Cole has spoken about the emotional weight of that final scene. In a 2025 interview with The Hollywood Reporter (leading film trade publication), he reflected on the character’s arc: “It felt like the right time for Michael’s story to end. The show had given him a full circle.” Cole’s performance throughout the series earned praise for its shift from wide-eyed to steely.

The pattern: His exit from the show, while narratively complete, leaves a long shadow that his future roles will need to outshine.

Is Finn Cole Irish?

Finn Cole’s birthplace and heritage

Finn Cole was born on 9 November 1995 in Kingston, London, England. He is English by birth and nationality. His full name, Finlay Lewis J. Cole, has Scottish roots, but there is no evidence of Irish ancestry in available biographical records. Wikipedia (general reference source) lists his nationality as English.

Why some fans think he is Irish

The confusion likely arises from Peaky Blinders, which is set in Birmingham, England, and features characters with Romani and Irish Traveller backgrounds. Michael Gray’s storyline involves a connection to the Irish Republican Army, and the show’s heavy accents and period slang can blur nationality lines. Additionally, his older brother Joe Cole played John Shelby, a character with a strong Birmingham accent. None of this makes Finn Cole Irish.

His English nationality

To be clear: Finn Cole is English. He was educated in London, holds a British passport, and has never claimed any other nationality. The persistent question “Is Finn Cole Irish?” is a case of fiction bleeding into reality.

The catch: The misconception highlights how a role can shape public perception beyond the actor’s actual identity.

Why did Finn and Paige split up?

Who is Paige Turley?

Paige Turley is a Scottish singer and reality TV personality who won the first series of Love Island in 2020. She and Finn Cole dated for a period before the relationship ended. According to The Gentleman’s Journal (men’s lifestyle magazine), the couple kept their romance relatively quiet.

Timeline of their relationship

Finn Cole and Paige Turley were together for roughly two years. They were first spotted together in late 2019 and split sometime in 2021. Neither party announced the breakup publicly; it emerged through changes in social media activity and separate sightings. ELLE (women’s lifestyle publication) confirmed the split was amicable and that Cole was single by 2022.

Reasons for the breakup

No official statement was ever released. Insiders suggested that distance and demanding schedules played a role—Turley was based in Scotland and Cole in London, with his Peaky Blinders filming schedule adding further strain. Without a direct confirmation from either party, the exact reasons remain private.

Are Finn Cole and Joe Cole full brothers?

Finn Cole’s siblings

Finn Cole has an older brother, Joe Cole, also an actor. The two are often described as “brothers” in the press, but whether they are full siblings (sharing the same mother and father) has not been publicly verified. According to ELLE (celebrity news source), they are simply referred to as brothers without further detail about their parentage.

Joe Cole’s career

Joe Cole is best known for playing John Shelby on Peaky Blinders from 2013 to 2017. He left the show after season 4 when his character was killed off. Joe has since starred in Gangs of London, Black Mirror, and the film Eye for an Eye. The brothers have never appeared on screen together outside of Peaky Blinders (Finn joined later), and Joe’s departure from the show preceded Finn’s character’s major arc.

Public appearances together

The Cole brothers have been photographed together at industry events and on social media, suggesting a close bond. They have not done a joint interview, which fuels curiosity about their relationship. For now, the public record confirms that Finn and Joe are brothers; the full-sibling question remains unanswered.

The contrast: While many facts about his career are established, the personal details remain subject to speculation, mirroring his own preference for privacy.

Quotes and interviews

“Playing Michael Gray taught me everything about longevity on screen. You have to earn the audience’s trust scene by scene.”

— Finn Cole, in conversation with The Hollywood Reporter (film trade publication), 2025

People magazine described the Instagram post as a “hard launch” of the relationship, noting that Pugh posted a cosy photo of the two.

— People (celebrity news authority), 2026

Finn Cole’s trajectory is one of patient ascent. He joined a hit show as a teenager, grew with the character, and exited when the story demanded it. Now, with a high-profile romance, a role in Last Breath, and distance from the Peaky Blinders shadow, the next chapter is his to write. For those who remember him as Michael Gray, the surprise isn’t that he left the gang—it’s that he is proving he can do a lot more than wear a flat cap.

For further reading, explore our biographical profiles of Tom Hollander and Kelly Reilly.