Cillian Murphy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cillian Murphy
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Murphy at the Berlinale 2024
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| Born | 25 May 1976 Douglas, Cork, Ireland
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| Education | University College Cork (no degree) |
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| Years active | 1996–present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
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Cillian Murphy (born May 25, 1976) is a famous actor from Ireland. He is known for acting on both stage and screen. For his amazing work, he has won many awards, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award.
He first became known for his role in the 1996 play Disco Pigs. He later played the same character in the movie version in 2001. Some of his early movies include the horror film 28 Days Later (2002), the thriller Red Eye (2005), and the science fiction movie Sunshine (2007).
Murphy has worked with director Christopher Nolan on many popular films. He played the villain Scarecrow in The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005–2012). He also appeared in Nolan's movies Inception (2010) and Dunkirk (2017).
Many people know him as Tommy Shelby from the hit TV show Peaky Blinders (2013–2022). In 2023, he starred as J. Robert Oppenheimer in the movie Oppenheimer. This role won him an Academy Award for Best Actor.
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Early Life and Music
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Cillian Murphy was born on May 25, 1976, in Douglas, a suburb of Cork, Ireland. His mother was a French teacher, and his father worked for the Department of Education. Many of his family members were teachers. He grew up in Ballintemple, Cork, with his younger brother and two younger sisters. He began writing and playing songs when he was 10 years old.
Murphy went to a Catholic high school where he did well in his classes. He wasn't very interested in sports, which was a big part of his school. He felt that art and drama were not given enough attention. In high school, he took a drama class and loved the feeling of performing. His English teacher encouraged him to try acting, but Murphy wanted to be a rock star.
In his late teens, he played guitar and sang in a band with his brother, Páidi. Their most successful band was called The Sons of Mr. Green Genes, named after a Frank Zappa song. A record company offered them a deal to make five albums. They turned it down because his brother was still in school. Murphy later said he was glad they didn't sign the contract.
In 1996, Murphy started studying law at University College Cork (UCC) but soon realized it wasn't for him. He was busy with his band and knew he didn't want to be a lawyer. After seeing a play called A Clockwork Orange, he decided to focus on acting. He started acting in plays at his university and knew it was what he wanted to do.
Acting Career
Stage Beginnings and Early Films
In 1996, Murphy got his first professional acting job in the play Disco Pigs. He played a teenager from Cork. The play was a huge success. It was supposed to run for only three weeks but ended up touring for two years across Europe, Canada, and Australia. Because of the play's success, Murphy left his university and his band to focus on acting.
He acted in many other plays, including works by William Shakespeare. He also started appearing in independent movies. During this time, he moved from Cork to Dublin, and then to London in 2001.
Breakthrough with 28 Days Later
Murphy's big break came in 2002 when he starred in Danny Boyle's horror film 28 Days Later. He played Jim, a man who wakes up from a coma to find London empty after a virus outbreak. The movie was a surprise hit all over the world. It introduced Murphy to a much larger audience and earned him award nominations for his performance.
In 2003, he starred in the Irish film Intermission with Colin Farrell. It became the highest-grossing Irish independent film at the time. He also had small roles in major Hollywood movies like Cold Mountain and Girl with a Pearl Earring.
Famous Roles and Working with Christopher Nolan
In 2005, Murphy began working with director Christopher Nolan. He first auditioned for the role of Batman in Batman Begins. While Christian Bale got the part, Nolan was so impressed with Murphy that he cast him as the villain Dr. Jonathan Crane, also known as the Scarecrow. Nolan said, "He has the most extraordinary eyes."
That same year, he played a villain in the thriller Red Eye. He also starred in the movie Breakfast on Pluto, where he played a character on a journey to find their mother. For this role, he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
In 2006, Murphy starred in The Wind That Shakes the Barley. The film is about the Irish War of Independence and was filmed in Cork, where Murphy grew up. The movie won a top prize at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival.
More Films and Inception
Murphy continued to work in both film and theatre. In 2007, he starred in the science fiction film Sunshine, another movie directed by Danny Boyle. He also briefly appeared as the Scarecrow again in The Dark Knight (2008).
In 2010, he teamed up with Christopher Nolan again for the hit movie Inception. He played Robert Fischer, a businessman whose mind is entered by a team of specialists. The film was a huge success worldwide. In 2012, he appeared as the Scarecrow for a third time in The Dark Knight Rises.
Peaky Blinders and Oppenheimer
In 2013, Murphy took on the role of Tommy Shelby, the leader of a criminal gang in the BBC series Peaky Blinders. The show is set in Birmingham, England, after World War I. The director, Steven Knight, said he chose Murphy for the part after Murphy sent him a text message that said, "Remember, I'm an actor." The show became very popular, and Murphy's performance was highly praised. The series ended in 2022.
Murphy also starred in the horror movie A Quiet Place Part II (2021) and Christopher Nolan's war film Dunkirk (2017).
In 2023, Murphy had the lead role in Nolan's movie Oppenheimer. He played J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist who led the project to create the first atomic bomb. To prepare, Murphy lost a lot of weight and studied Oppenheimer's life. The film was a massive success. For his incredible performance, Murphy won the Golden Globe Award, BAFTA Award, and the Academy Award for Best Actor.
In 2024, Murphy started a production company called Big Things Films. He is set to star in and produce a movie continuing the Peaky Blinders story, as well as sequels to 28 Days Later.
Personal Life and Activism
In 2004, Murphy married artist Yvonne McGuinness. They have two sons. After living in London for 14 years, the family moved back to Dublin, Ireland, in 2015.
Murphy is private about his personal life. He was a vegetarian for about 15 years but started eating meat again for his role in Peaky Blinders. He has since returned to being a vegetarian.
He also supports social causes. He has worked with organizations that help homeless people in Ireland. In 2011, he became a patron of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at the National University of Ireland Galway, which works to improve the lives of children and families.
Acting Credits and Awards
Cillian Murphy's most successful films are often his projects with director Christopher Nolan, including Oppenheimer, Inception, and The Dark Knight Trilogy. He has won many awards for his acting, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and four Irish Film & Television Awards.
See also
In Spanish: Cillian Murphy para niños
