Cillian Murphy

**Cillian Murphy** (born 25 May 1976) is an Irish actor and producer. Murphy is known for his roles in Christopher Nolan movies such as Scarecrow in _The Dark Knight Trilogy_ (2005–2012). He also appeared in _Inception_ and _Dunkirk_. He also plays Tommy Shelby in the BBC drama television series _Peaky Blinders_. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 2005 for his role as Patrick/Patricia "Kitty" Braden in _Breakfast on Pluto_.

In 2023, he played physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer in the Christopher Nolan movie _Oppenheimer_ for which he won a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a BAFTA Award and the Academy Award for Best Actor.

## Early life

Murphy was born on 25 May 1976 in Douglas, County Cork, Ireland. He was raised in Ballintemple, a suburb of Cork. His father, Brendan Murphy, worked for the Irish Department of Education. His mother is a French teacher. He went to University College Cork.

## Career

Murphy started his career as a rock musician. After he turned down a record deal, he started his acting career in a play in Disco Pigs in 1996. He went on to star in a British and Irish movie and stage production in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His first worldwide role was in 2003 as the hero in the horror movie _28 Days Later_.

Murphy's best-known roles were villains in two blockbusters: Scarecrow in the superhero movie _Batman Begins_, and as Jackson Rippner in the thriller movie _Red Eye_. He also played the Scarecrow in the next two Batman movies: _The Dark Knight_ and _The Dark Knight Rises_. He played the orphan teen in the 2005's _Breakfast on Pluto_. For that role, he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. He played a 1920s Irish revolutionary in _The Wind That Shakes the Barley_.

He has also played the main protagonist, Thomas Shelby, in the BBC drama _Peaky Blinders_.

In 2023, he played J. Robert Oppenheimer in the Christopher Nolan movie _Oppenheimer_. To prepare for the role, Murphy lost weight to match Oppenheimer's appearance. He researched Oppenheimer's life and took inspiration from David Bowie's appearance in the 1970s for his role. He won a Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award a BAFTA  Award, and an Academy Award for this role.           Murphy will next portray fictional secret agent James Bond for Christopher Nolan's Upcoming 007 film.

## Personal life

Murphy lived in London, England from 2001 until 2015 when he moved to Dublin, Ireland. He often works in or near a city. He has no thoughts of moving to Hollywood. He often gives interviews about his movies. He does not give information about his private life.

Murphy married Yvonne McGuinness in 2004. They have two sons; Malachy (b. 2005) and Carrick (b. 2007). He currently lives in Monkstown, Dublin, Ireland.

He was a vegetarian for around 15 years, which he said happened because he was "worried about getting mad cow disease" rather than a moral decision. He also had problems about unhealthy agribusiness practices.

## Infobox (person)

- **name**: Cillian Murphy
- **image**: Cillian Murphy at Berlinale 2024, Ausschnitt.jpg
- **caption**: Murphy in 2024
- **birth place**: Cork (city), Cork, Ireland
- **occupation**: Actor, producer
- **years active**: 1996–present
- **children**: 2
- **signature**: Cillian Murphy signature.svg