Cillian Murphy
- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Striking Irish actor Cillian Murphy was born in Douglas, Co Cork, the oldest child of Brendan Murphy, who works for the Irish Department of Education, and a mother who is a teacher of French. He has three younger siblings. Murphy was educated at Presentation Brothers College, Cork. He went on to study law at University College Cork, but dropped out after about a year. During this time, Murphy also pursued an interest in music, playing guitar in various bands. Upon leaving University, Murphy joined the Corcadorca Theater Company in Cork, and played the lead role in "Disco Pigs", amongst other plays.
Various film roles followed, including a film adaptation ofDisco Pigs (2001).However, his big film break came when he was cast inDanny Boyle's28 Days Later... (2002),which became a surprise international hit. This performance earned him nominations for Best Newcomer at the Empire Awards and Breakthrough Male Performance at the MTV Movie Awards.
Murphy went on to supporting roles in high-profile films such asCold Mountain (2003)andGirl with a Pearl Earring (2003),and then was cast in two villain roles: Dr. Jonathan Crane, aka The Scarecrow, inBatman Begins (2005)and Jackson Rippner inRed Eye (2005).Although slight in nature for a villain, Murphy's piercing blue eyes helped to create creepy performances and critics began to take notice. Manhola Dargis of the New York Times cited Murphy as a "picture-perfect villain", while David Denby of The New Yorker noted he was both "seductive" and "sinister".
Later that year, Murphy starred as Patrick "Kitten" Braden, an Irish transgender woman in search of her mother inNeil Jordan'sBreakfast on Pluto (2005),a film adaptation of thePat McCabenovel. Although the film was not a box office success, Murphy was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical and he won Best Actor for the Irish Film and Television Academy Awards.
The following year, Murphy starred inKen Loach'sThe Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006).The film was the most successful independent Irish film and won the Palm D'Or at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. Murphy continued to take roles in a number of independent films, and also reprised his role as the Scarecrow inChristopher Nolan'sThe Dark Knight (2008).Nolan is known for working with actors in multiple films, and cast Murphy inInception (2010)as Robert Fischer, the young heir of the multi-billion dollar empire, who was the target of DiCaprio's dream team. His most well-known work is starring as Thomas Shelby in the British TV show Peaky Blinders beginning in 2013.
Murphy continues to appear in high-profile films such asIn Time (2011),Red Lights (2012),andThe Dark Knight Rises (2012),the final film in Nolan's Batman trilogy.
Murphy is married to Yvonne McGuinness, an artist. The couple have two sons, Malachy and Aran.
Various film roles followed, including a film adaptation ofDisco Pigs (2001).However, his big film break came when he was cast inDanny Boyle's28 Days Later... (2002),which became a surprise international hit. This performance earned him nominations for Best Newcomer at the Empire Awards and Breakthrough Male Performance at the MTV Movie Awards.
Murphy went on to supporting roles in high-profile films such asCold Mountain (2003)andGirl with a Pearl Earring (2003),and then was cast in two villain roles: Dr. Jonathan Crane, aka The Scarecrow, inBatman Begins (2005)and Jackson Rippner inRed Eye (2005).Although slight in nature for a villain, Murphy's piercing blue eyes helped to create creepy performances and critics began to take notice. Manhola Dargis of the New York Times cited Murphy as a "picture-perfect villain", while David Denby of The New Yorker noted he was both "seductive" and "sinister".
Later that year, Murphy starred as Patrick "Kitten" Braden, an Irish transgender woman in search of her mother inNeil Jordan'sBreakfast on Pluto (2005),a film adaptation of thePat McCabenovel. Although the film was not a box office success, Murphy was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical and he won Best Actor for the Irish Film and Television Academy Awards.
The following year, Murphy starred inKen Loach'sThe Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006).The film was the most successful independent Irish film and won the Palm D'Or at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. Murphy continued to take roles in a number of independent films, and also reprised his role as the Scarecrow inChristopher Nolan'sThe Dark Knight (2008).Nolan is known for working with actors in multiple films, and cast Murphy inInception (2010)as Robert Fischer, the young heir of the multi-billion dollar empire, who was the target of DiCaprio's dream team. His most well-known work is starring as Thomas Shelby in the British TV show Peaky Blinders beginning in 2013.
Murphy continues to appear in high-profile films such asIn Time (2011),Red Lights (2012),andThe Dark Knight Rises (2012),the final film in Nolan's Batman trilogy.
Murphy is married to Yvonne McGuinness, an artist. The couple have two sons, Malachy and Aran.
