Finn Cole Bio
Finlay Lewis Cole is an English actor born on 9 November 1995 in London, England. He is best known for his breakout television role as Michael Gray in the BBC series Peaky Blinders (2014–2022) and for starring as Joshua “J” Cody in the TNT drama Animal Kingdom (2016–2022), while also appearing in feature films including F9 (2021), Locked In (2023), and Last Breath (2025).
Early Life and Background
Finlay Lewis Cole was raised in London and is the fourth of five brothers. As a child he wanted to work on boats like his father, and he grew up in a household where performing and practical trades were both part of daily life.
Cole benefited early on from a family connection to acting: his eldest brother, Joe Cole, helped him secure the audition that led to his first major screen role. Cole attended Esher College as part of his post-secondary education before focusing on professional acting work.
Path to Celebrity
Cole began acting as a teenager and is credited as active from 2012 onward. His first notable opportunities came through television casting in the early 2010s, culminating in the role that brought him national attention in 2014.
The combination of a prominent television debut in the United Kingdom and subsequent casting in a leading role on an American drama accelerated Cole’s profile internationally, establishing him as a versatile performer able to move between UK and US productions and between television and film.
Finn Cole Career
Early Career (2012–2015)
Cole’s credited career began in the early 2010s and his first major screen casting came in 2014 when he was cast as Michael Gray in the BBC period crime drama Peaky Blinders. That role served as his breakout performance and introduced him to a broad television audience across the United Kingdom and internationally.
In 2015 Cole expanded his television work with an appearance as Eric Birling in the BBC One adaptation of An Inspector Calls and a guest role in the detective series Lewis. Those early roles demonstrated his range in period drama and contemporary television and set the stage for more substantial lead opportunities.
Peaky Blinders Breakthrough (2014–2022)
Finlay Lewis Cole’s portrayal of Michael Gray across the BBC series Peaky Blinders from 2014 to 2022 remains his defining early career achievement. Cast in a main role, Cole developed a recurring character over multiple seasons, gaining recognition for his work within an ensemble that included established and rising British actors.
The sustained run on Peaky Blinders provided Cole with extended on-screen experience in a high-profile production, helping to broaden his professional network and to showcase his ability to carry complex dramatic material over several seasons.
Animal Kingdom Breakthrough (2016–2022)
From 2016 to 2022, Cole starred as Joshua “J” Cody in the American drama series Animal Kingdom, which aired on TNT. In that main role he anchored much of the series’ emotional core and reached a substantial international audience through the show’s U.S. exposure, marking a transition from prominent UK television roles to leading parts in American drama.
The role of Joshua Cody allowed Cole to display a different register of performance, handling contemporary family dynamics and tense dramatic moments across multiple seasons. His sustained presence on the series reinforced his standing as a lead actor capable of carrying serialized narrative arcs.
Film Work and Stage (2018–present)
Cole expanded into feature films beginning in the late 2010s, appearing in the comedy horror Slaughterhouse Rulez (2018), the period thriller Dreamland (2019), and the drama Here Are the Young Men (2020). He appeared as a young Jakob Toretto in the 2021 feature film F9, a high-profile franchise appearance that increased his visibility in mainstream international cinema.
In 2023 Cole appeared as Jamie in the psychological thriller Locked In for Netflix, and he made his stage debut in 2024 in Red Speedo by Lucas Hnath at the Orange Tree Theatre. In 2025 he is credited as starring in the film Last Breath, further expanding his body of film work across genres and platforms.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Cole’s career include his long-running main role in Peaky Blinders, his leading role in the American series Animal Kingdom, his appearance in the global franchise film F9, and his stage debut at the Orange Tree Theatre. Each of these steps marked an expansion of his range and audience reach from UK television into international film and stage work.
Finn Cole Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Cole comes from a family of five brothers and was raised in London. His brother Joe Cole is an established actor and played a part in helping Finn secure the audition that led to his early television success.
Personal Life
Publicly available information about Cole’s partners or children is not detailed in verified sources provided here. His documented education includes attendance at Esher College prior to his professional focus on acting.
2025 Season Performance
In 2025 Finlay Lewis Cole is credited with starring in the film Last Breath, a project that follows his 2023 appearance in Locked In and his 2024 stage debut. The 2025 credit reflects a continued trajectory in feature films following sustained television success and a first major stage role.
The recent sequence of projects through 2023–2025 highlights Cole’s movement between screen and stage and his willingness to take on varied material across genres. Coming off roles in high-profile television series and a franchise film, his 2025 work positions him to continue building a diverse professional portfolio.