PEAKY Blinders actor Aidan Gillen insisted Aberama Gold is a "romantic gentleman" - despite his brutal behaviour in season five.
In Sunday night's episode, the savage character stunned fans when he poured boiling hot tar into an enemy's mouth to avenge the murder of his son, Bonnie.
Speaking to The Sun Online, 51-year-old Aidan said his character Aberama is only "kind of" a villain in the BBC One series, and claimed his tender qualities rank higher than his violent lifestyle.
The Irish actor told us: "I'm back to Peaky Blinders - I play this character Aberama Gold.
"We have just finished shooting season five, which I have been loving... There's more 'kind of, sort of' villainy."
Remaining defiant, Aidan continued: "I see that character as a romantic gentleman, gypsy..." after a long pause he added: "Hitman."
Since making his debut in the show last series, Aberama has been enjoying a growing romance with Tommy Shelby's auntie Polly [Helen McCrory]
in addition to taking part in several violent murders and attacks.
The character's softer side shocked fans at the time, with he and Polly romping during an intimate woodland date after he hunted a rabbit for them to cook over an open fire.
The pair's sweet relationship continued in this week's episode, with the Shelby family matriarch urging Aberama to leave the gang that murdered his son to Tommy [Cillian Murphy] while he recovers from his own injuries.
However, the hitman's weakness has always been his beloved son, so it is unsurprising that the Billy Boy gang crucifying and shooting Bonnie in last week's episode has made him so bloodthirsty.
Peaky Blinders fans confessed that they found the vengeful scene particularly difficult to watch as Aberama attacked a member of the fascist Glaswegian gang in this week's episode.
Deciding against shooting him, viewers watched in horror as the professional killer poured a bucketful of hot tar all over the man's face and in his mouth.
Aberama is far from the only savage 'villain' that Aidan has played over the years, with the star also known for his roles of scheming Petyr 'Littlefinger' Baelish in Game Of Thrones and ruthless gang leader John Boy Power in Love/ Hate.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun Online, Aidan admitted that playing such renowned baddies has impacted how the general public view him.
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He explained: "There definitely is a public perception, people do feel like they know you - whether they think you are good or bad.
"One of the most interesting facets of the job is when you get to this stage where people think they know you.
"I have played a lot of nice people before, but it is the villains that people seem to have noticed."
And with characters as powerful as Aberama Gold on his impressive resume, it is easy to understand why.
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