Finlay Lewis J. Cole, professionally known as Finn Cole, is an English actor born on November 9, 1995, in Kingston, London, England.
Raised in South West London as the fourth of five brothers, he initially aspired to follow in his father’s footsteps as a boat builder before discovering a passion for acting during his school years.
Encouraged by a teacher, he joined the National Youth Theatre in his late teens, which marked the beginning of his journey into the performing arts.
Cole gained widespread recognition for his role as Michael Gray in the BBC historical crime drama series Peaky Blinders, where he portrayed a cunning accountant and family member in a post-World War I gang.
Siblings
Finn is the fourth among five brothers, all raised in London by their parents, George Cole, a boat builder, and Susan Cole.
His eldest brother, Joe Cole, is also a prominent actor who notably starred alongside him in Peaky Blinders, playing the role of John Shelby, Michael’s cousin in the series.
Joe played a pivotal role in Finn’s entry into acting, sharing scripts and helping him prepare for auditions, including the one that landed Finn his breakthrough part.
The names and professions of Finn’s other three brothers remain private, as the family maintains a low profile outside of the entertainment industry.
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Career
Cole’s professional acting career kicked off in 2012 with a minor background role in the film Offender, which featured his brother Joe in a leading capacity.
His major breakthrough arrived in 2014 when he was cast as Michael Gray in the second season of the BBC series Peaky Blinders, a role he continued through to the show’s conclusion in 2022, appearing in 27 episodes and evolving from a naive outsider to a key antagonist.
Building on this success, Cole expanded to American television in 2016, starring as Joshua “J” Cody in TNT’s crime drama Animal Kingdom, portraying a young man navigating a dysfunctional criminal family across all 75 episodes until the series ended in 2022.
On the big screen, he appeared in the 2015 television film An Inspector Calls, followed by horror-comedy Slaughterhouse Rulez in 2018 alongside Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.
Cole took on leading roles in the independent drama Dreamland opposite Margot Robbie in 2019 and Here Are the Young Men with Anya Taylor-Joy in 2020.
He made his Hollywood blockbuster debut in 2021 as young Jakob Toretto in F9: The Fast Saga, and continued with thriller Locked In in 2023.
In 2024, Cole ventured into theater with a starring role in the stage production Red Speedo, and he is set to appear in the upcoming film Last Breath in 2025 alongside Woody Harrelson.
Accolades
Peaky Blinders, where he played a central role, has garnered multiple BAFTA Television Awards, including wins for Best Drama Series, reflecting the show’s overall excellence and Cole’s integral part in its success.
Similarly, Animal Kingdom received nominations for various accolades, such as Saturn Awards for Best Action-Thriller Television Series, highlighting the strong performances from its cast, including Cole’s portrayal of the complex lead character.
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