Peaky Blinders star says he’s moving back to Scotland to get away from Trump

Actor Tommy Flanagan has disclosed his intentions to move back to Scotland after 25 years in the US in the wake of Donald Trump’s massive election win.

The star, known for his roles in hit shows and films like Gladiator, Peaky Blinders, and Sons of Anarchy, joins a host of Hollywood celebrities who have expressed their dismay at the political shift to the right in America.

The 59-year-old said: “It’s time to come home. I want to come back here. I’ve been away too long. I think it’s time to move back to Scotland. I’ve been in the US for over 25 years and it’s time to come home, especially after Trump getting back into the White House.”

Married to Dina and father to 12-year-old daughter Aunjanue, Tommy is eager to return to live and work in Scotland after spending more than two decades in the US film and television industry.

Speaking to The Daily Record, he shared: “I’m based over there and my home is over there. It’s time to get away from that Trump. I don’t want to say I want to leave America because of him but it’s not made me want to stay, put it that way. It’s disgusting so we’ll see. If I start talking about it I’ll go f***ing mental. But it’s not good.”

He also reflected on his connection to his homeland, stating: “I don’t feel I’ve been gone that long to be honest with you, I really don’t.”

Despite currently calling California home for the past quarter-century, he added: “I was on my way back years ago and then my daughter came along and she was born over there though she is Scottish. I want to bring her over here.”

Tommy, originally from Easterhouse, bears distinctive facial scars from a knife attack outside a nightclub where he was DJing. After being assaulted by a gang attempting to rob him, he was persuaded to try acting by his friend Robert Carlyle while recovering in hospital.

He gained fame in Mel Gibson’s 1995 film Braveheart and Lynne Ramsay’s Ratcatcher, and played Cicero alongside Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix in Ridley Scott’s 2000 film Gladiator. His other roles include Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2, Alien vs Predator, The Game and Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle. He is perhaps best known for his role as outlaw biker Flip ‘Chips’ Telford in the crime drama TV series Sons of Anarchy from 2008 – 2014.

Having arrived in Glasgow at the weekend to present his friend, casting director Des Hamilton, with an Outstanding Contribution to Craft award at a star-studded BAFTA Scotland awards, Flanagan also revealed he has signed up to begin filming Guy Ritchie’s latest project. Lock, Stock and Two Barrels and The Gentleman director Ritchie has enlisted him to join a star-studded cast that includes Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan and Tom Hardy for The Associate, a London-based gangster series The Associate which will air on Paramount+.

Tommy said: “I just got back to present an award to my best pal Des Hamilton for Outstanding Contribution to Casting. He’s a phenomenal guy. He’s been a friend of mine the past 40 years. It’s a pleasure to be that and to be in my hometown.

“I’m about to start something with Guy Ritchie and Tom Hardy. I start that in December and I’ve a few things next year.

“They haven’t put any press out yet so I won’t talk about it. Big Des is casting it, of course he is. He gets all the good stuff.”

The actor, eager to return to UK filming for The Associates next month, added: “I’m here to give the award to my pal Des and I’m back to work here and what I want to do and bring my daughter over here as soon as possible. She is a big Celtic fan like her father and she’s proud to be Scottish.”

“She doesn’t know what she wants to do yet. She’s a wee fashionista at the moment with baggy sweaters and big jeans and all that. She thinks she knows everything. She’s great.

“I will be in Scotland. I think I’ve been gone long enough.”