Cillian Murphy is a celebrated Irish actor who is best known for his engrossing role as Tommy Shelby in the British drama series Peaky Blinders and for starring roles A Quiet Place Part 2 and Oppenheimer, all incredible performances which earned him international recognition.

CILLIAN MURPHY BIOGRAPHY: AGE, EARLY LIFE, FAMILY, EDUCATION

Cillian Murphy was born on May 25, 1976 (Cillian Murphy age: 47), in Douglas, Cork, Ireland. His father was employed by the Department of Education, while his mother taught French. Murphy’s grandfather, aunts, and uncles were also teachers.

Murphy grew up in Ballintemple, Cork, along with his two younger sisters, Orla and Sile, as well as his younger brother Páidi. 

At ten years old, Murphy began writing and performing songs he created. He was raised Catholic and studied at the Catholic secondary school Presentation Brothers College, where he excelled academically but frequently found himself getting into trouble due to mischievous behavior.

Murphy discovered his first taste of performing in secondary school, where he decided to participate in a drama module presented by Corcadorca Theatre Company director Pat Kiernan. He later went on to publicly describe the experience as a “huge high” as well as a “fully alive” feeling that he wound up setting himself out on a mission to chase. His English teacher at the time, author William Wall, encouraged Murphy to pursue a professional career in acting, though at the time, Murphy was set on becoming a rock star.

During his adolescent years, Murphy played the guitar and sang in multiple bands with his younger brother. Acid Jazz Records even offered them a five-album deal, which they rejected not only because Murphy’s younger brother Páidi was still in school, but because they were unsatisfied with how little they were being offered.

Murphy went on to attend University College Cork in order to study law in 1996. However, he flunked his first-year exams since he “had no ambitions” to pass. Murphy was not only involved with his band at the time, but after only a few days of being enrolled at UCC, he knew that law was not something he wanted to pursue. After having viewed Corcadorca’s stage production of A Clockwork Orange, which was directed by Kiernan, acting began to pique Murphy’s creative interest once more. His first significant role was in the UCC Drama Society’s production of Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme.

CILLIAN MURPHY BIOGRAPHY: CAREER

In 1996, Murphy made his professional debut starring in Enda Walsh’s play Disco Pigs.

His most recent role came in the newly released hit drama/thriller film Oppenheimer, a role which has earned Murphy some of the best reviews of his professional acting career. He even earned high praise from fellow famed Iron Man actor Robert Downey Jr., who told People that “I have never witnessed a greater sacrifice by a lead actor in my career.”

In reflecting upon his role in Oppenheimer, Murphy discussed with MSNBC how happy he was to shoot this film, stating that, “In terms of the ensemble of actors, for me, every single day was a gift.”

Commenting on his performance in the popular television series Peaky Blinders, Murphy told EW how “there was slight hesitation because I’d never really played that physically imposing sort of hyper-masculine-type character. But I knew that it was such amazing material and I knew that it was a gift of a role and I just needed to convince them that I could do it and I could work to become that physically imposing character.” Murphy also noted that he started filming for this show back in 2012, and something unique about this role is that he’s “never had that experience of growing older with a character or being able to inhabit it to a point where the character starts thinking for you in the performance.”

In an exclusive interview with uInterview, Murphy talked about the thriller/mystery film Red Lights and was asked if he had done any preparation for his role.

“Yes. I did lots, lots, and lots of reading,” Murphy commented. “I had to go on and learn a few rudimentary magic tricks and I spoke to a lot of people and [director] Rodrigo Cortés gave me a lot of his material. So, it was fascinating. You have to always do your due diligence in that regard, but ultimately, it just becomes about the character, and just sort of try and make him as complex and human and contradictory, and all these things, you know?”

When asked if they’ve ever had a paranormal experience, this is what Murphy and Cortés had to say:

“I have not,” admitted Murphy. “I’m afraid I’m quite boringly rational. So, I would call myself, I guess, a skeptic. I’m not a cynic, I’m open, I’m curious you know, you’ve got to be open to these things, but I’ve yet to experience anything that can’t be explained.”

“Yeah, I’m afraid I’m as boring as Cillian, if not more,” Cortés stated. “So nothing serious happened to me. I would love to see something out of the ordinary, but not yet.”

CILLIAN MURPHY BIOGRAPHY: PERSONAL LIFE

Murphy currently resides in Dublin, Ireland, with his family. In 2004, Murphy and his long-time girlfriend,  Yvonne McGuinness, officially tied the knot. They resided in London from 2001 until 2015, before the couple decided to relocate to Dublin. They have two teenage sons, Aran and Malachy Murphy.

Murphy was a vegetarian for approximately 15 years of his life, which happened as a result of him being concerned he may end up contracting mad cow disease, rather than it being a moral decision. He began eating meat again in order to bulk up for his distinct role in Peaky Blinders.

Murphy enjoys running in his spare time and is an avid music lover. 

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