Cillian Murphy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cillian Murphy
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Murphy in 2024
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| Born | 25 May 1976 Cork, Ireland
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| Education | University College Cork (no degree) |
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| Years active | 1996–present |
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
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Cillian Murphy (pronounced KILL-ee-ən; born on May 25, 1976) is a famous Irish actor. He has starred in many movies and plays, and has won big awards like an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Golden Globe Award.
Cillian Murphy started his acting journey in a play called Disco Pigs in 1996. He later acted in the movie version of the play. Some of his early films include the scary movie 28 Days Later (2002), the funny but dark film Intermission (2003), and the exciting thriller Red Eye (2005). He also played a unique role in Breakfast on Pluto (2005), which earned him a Golden Globe nomination.
In 2005, Cillian began working with director Christopher Nolan. He played the scary Scarecrow in the Dark Knight movies (2005–2012). He also appeared in Nolan's films Inception (2010) and Dunkirk (2017). He became even more well-known for playing Tommy Shelby in the TV series Peaky Blinders (2013–2022). In 2023, he starred as J. Robert Oppenheimer in Nolan's film Oppenheimer, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor.
In 2011, Cillian won an award for his amazing performance in the one-man play Misterman. The Irish Times newspaper even called him one of the greatest Irish film actors ever in 2020.
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Cillian Murphy's Early Life and School
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Cillian Murphy was born on May 25, 1976, in Douglas, Cork, Ireland. His mother was a French teacher, and his father worked for the Department of Education. Many of his family members were also teachers. He grew up in Ballintemple, Cork, with his younger brother Páidi and two younger sisters, Sile and Orla. He started writing and singing songs when he was just 10 years old.
He went to a Catholic secondary school called Presentation Brothers College. He was good at schoolwork but sometimes got into trouble. Cillian wasn't very interested in sports, which was a big part of the school. He felt that art and drama were not given enough attention.
Cillian first tried acting in secondary school. He took part in a drama class led by Pat Kiernan, a theater director. He loved the feeling of performing and wanted to do more of it. His English teacher, William Wall, encouraged him to act. But Cillian really wanted to be a rock star. In his late teens, he sang and played guitar in bands with his brother, Páidi. Their most successful band was called The Sons of Mr. Green Genes. They even got an offer for a five-album deal, but they turned it down. Cillian is glad they didn't sign, as he felt it would have meant giving up too much control over his music.
In 1996, Cillian started studying law at University College Cork (UCC). However, he failed his first-year exams because he didn't really want to be a lawyer. He was too busy with his band and quickly realized law wasn't for him. After seeing a play called A Clockwork Orange, he became more interested in acting. He joined the UCC Drama Society and acted in plays like Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme. He also played the main role in Little Shop of Horrors at the Cork Opera House. At first, he admitted he was mostly interested in going to parties and meeting people.
Cillian Murphy's Acting Career
Starting Out: Theatre and Early Films (1996–2002)
Cillian Murphy really wanted to act for the Corcadorca Theatre Company. In September 1996, he got his first professional acting job. He played a wild teenager in Enda Walsh's play Disco Pigs. The play was supposed to run for only three weeks. But it became so popular that it toured around Europe, Canada, and Australia for two years! Cillian left university and his band to focus on acting. His first agent saw him in Disco Pigs, and his acting career took off.
He acted in many other plays, including Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing (1998). He also appeared in independent films like On the Edge (2001). He played his Disco Pigs role again for the movie version in 2001. Around this time, he moved from Cork to Dublin, and then to London in 2001. In 2002, he starred in a play called The Shape of Things in Dublin. Critics praised his performance, saying he showed great skill and intelligence.
Becoming Well-Known: 28 Days Later (2002–2004)
Cillian Murphy got the main role in Danny Boyle's horror film 28 Days Later (2002). He played Jim, a man who wakes up from a coma to find London empty after a terrible sickness. The casting director, Gail Stevens, suggested Cillian because she liked his acting in Disco Pigs. 28 Days Later became a big hit around the world. This made Cillian famous to a huge audience for the first time. His acting earned him nominations for awards like Best Newcomer.
In 2003, Cillian acted in a play called The Seagull at the Edinburgh International Festival. He also starred in the Irish film Intermission (2003). In this movie, he played a supermarket worker who plans a bank robbery. This film became the highest-earning Irish independent film at the time. Cillian also had small roles in big Hollywood movies like Cold Mountain (2003) and Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003).
Playing Villains and Gaining Success (2005–2006)
Cillian Murphy played Dr. Jonathan Crane in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins (2005). He first tried out for the role of Batman, but Nolan was so impressed that he gave Cillian the part of the villain, Scarecrow. Nolan said Cillian has "the most extraordinary eyes." Cillian also starred as Jackson Rippner in the thriller Red Eye (2005). A film critic from The New York Times said Cillian was a "picture-perfect villain." This movie was well-liked and earned a lot of money.
Cillian received several award nominations for his villain roles in 2005. He was even named one of the "Summer MVPs" by Entertainment Weekly magazine.
He then starred as Patrick/"Kitten" Braden in Neil Jordan's film Breakfast on Pluto (2005). For this role, Cillian was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and won an Irish Film and Television Academy award.
In 2006, Cillian starred in The Wind That Shakes the Barley. This film was about the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War. It won a major award at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival and became the most successful Irish independent film. Cillian was very eager to be in this movie because it was filmed in his hometown of Cork. He played Damien O'Donovan, a young doctor who becomes a revolutionary. Cillian said he was "tremendously proud" of the film. Critics praised his acting, saying he showed both strong belief and deep thought in his character. GQ magazine gave Cillian its Actor of the Year award for his work in this film.
More Theatre and Film Roles (2006–2010)
Cillian Murphy returned to the stage in London from 2006 to 2007. He played the main role in the play Love Song. He then starred in the science fiction film Sunshine (2007), where he played a scientist trying to restart the sun. He also appeared in the romantic comedy Watching the Detectives (2007).
In 2008, Cillian briefly appeared as the Scarecrow again in Nolan's The Dark Knight. He also starred in The Edge of Love, a film about the poet Dylan Thomas. In July 2008, Cillian appeared on an Irish postage stamp! The stamp honored Irish films and featured a picture of him from The Wind That Shakes the Barley.
In 2009, Cillian starred in a short film called The Water. He liked the idea of making a silent movie, which he felt was a difficult test for an actor. He also starred in Perrier's Bounty, a crime comedy.
In 2010, Cillian returned to theatre for a special show celebrating the Druid Theatre Company's 35th birthday. He also starred in the film Peacock (2010), where he played a man with two personalities. Critics praised his performance in this challenging role. Cillian then starred in Christopher Nolan's Inception (2010). He played Robert Fischer, a businessman whose mind is entered by other characters. That same year, Cillian had a small, uncredited role in Tron: Legacy.
Peaky Blinders and Oppenheimer (2011–Present)
In 2011, Cillian Murphy performed in the one-man play Misterman, written by Enda Walsh. He had worked with Walsh before on Disco Pigs. Cillian said that performing alone on stage was very exciting and dangerous. His performance received great reviews and won him awards. Critics noted his amazing ability to create interesting characters. He also appeared in the horror film Retreat (2011) and the science fiction film In Time (2011).
In 2012, Cillian starred in Red Lights with Robert De Niro and Sigourney Weaver. He played Tom Buckley, an assistant to a paranormal investigator. Cillian said working with De Niro was one of the most exciting moments of his career. He also played the Scarecrow for the third time in The Dark Knight Rises (2012). He had a supporting role in the film Broken (2012), which earned him an award nomination.
Since 2013, Cillian Murphy has starred as Thomas Shelby in the BBC TV series Peaky Blinders. The show is about a criminal gang in Birmingham, England, after World War I. The director, Steven Knight, chose Cillian after he sent a text message saying, "Remember, I'm an actor." Cillian loved the scripts and the complex character of Tommy Shelby. Peaky Blinders became very popular and received high ratings. The show finished its sixth season in 2022. In 2013, Cillian also directed his first music video for the band Money.
In 2014, Cillian starred in the films Aloft and Transcendence. In 2015, he was in Ron Howard's film In the Heart of the Sea. He also lent his voice to some music tracks. In 2016, Cillian starred in Free Fire. He also played Jozef Gabčík, a Czechoslovak soldier involved in a famous World War II assassination, in the film Anthropoid.
In 2017, Cillian played a soldier suffering from shell shock in Christopher Nolan's war film Dunkirk. This film was a big success. Cillian felt his character represented the deep emotional impact war can have on soldiers. He also had a role in the film Anna (2019). His next film was A Quiet Place Part II (2021), where he played Emmett, a tough survivor who helps the Abbott family. Critics praised his performance.
Cillian Murphy starred as J. Robert Oppenheimer in the biographical thriller Oppenheimer (2023). This was his sixth time working with director Christopher Nolan, and his first time as the main star. To get ready for the role, Cillian lost a lot of weight to look like Oppenheimer. He also researched Oppenheimer's life and found inspiration from David Bowie's look in the 1970s. The film earned a lot of money and received excellent reviews. Cillian's acting was highly praised, with one critic saying he was "compelling throughout." For his performance, he won many top awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama, BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, and the Academy Award for Best Actor.
In 2024, Cillian launched his own film production company called Big Things Films. He produced and starred in the film Small Things like These, which opened a major film festival. He is also working on a film called Steve with Netflix. Cillian will be an executive producer for the sequel to 28 Days Later, called 28 Years Later, and might act in it again. He is also expected to return for a Peaky Blinders movie and will produce and star in Blood Runs Coal.
Cillian Murphy has also hosted shows on BBC Radio 6 Music since 2013. Since 2020, he has hosted Cillian Murphy's Limited Edition, where he shares music from his personal collection and answers questions from listeners.
Cillian Murphy's Activism
Cillian Murphy has used his fame to support important causes. In 2007, he took part in the Rock the Vote Ireland campaign. This campaign encouraged young people to vote in elections. He also worked with Focus Ireland to help people who are homeless. In 2011, he became a patron of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre in Ireland. He supports their work with children, youth, and community involvement. In 2012, he sent a message of support to workers who were protesting for their rights, saying they were highlighting something important for the whole nation.
Cillian Murphy's Personal Life
In 2004, Cillian Murphy married his longtime girlfriend, Yvonne McGuinness. They met in 1996 at one of his rock band's shows. They lived in Dublin until 2001, then moved to London so Yvonne could study art. After 14 years, they moved back to Dublin in 2015. They have two sons, born in 2005 and 2007.
Cillian was raised Catholic. He has said that his role in the film Sunshine made him think more about his beliefs, and his views shifted towards atheism. However, he mentioned in 2019 that his Catholic upbringing still influences his sense of right and wrong.
He was a vegetarian for about 15 years. He said he became vegetarian because he was worried about certain health issues, not mainly for moral reasons. He started eating meat again to gain weight for his role in Peaky Blinders. In 2022, he said he had returned to being vegetarian.
Acting Credits and Awards
Cillian Murphy's most successful films have been his collaborations with director Christopher Nolan. These include Oppenheimer, Inception, Batman Begins, and Dunkirk. After the huge success of Oppenheimer, Cillian was named one of the most influential people in entertainment in 2023. His other well-known films include A Quiet Place II and The Wind that Shakes the Barley. Throughout his career, he has won many awards, including four Irish Film & Television Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy Award.
See also
In Spanish: Cillian Murphy para niños
