Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1976-05-25
- Born Place: Douglas, Cork, Ireland
Height:
5′ 9″ (1.75 m)
Cillian Murphy
Cillian Murphy is an award-winning Irish actor and producer, celebrated for his intense screen presence, emotional depth, and transformative performances. Born on May 25, 1976, in Douglas, County Cork, Ireland, he grew up in a creative family—his father worked for the Irish Department of Education, and his mother was a French teacher. Initially drawn to music, Murphy was the lead singer and guitarist of a rock band before shifting to acting in the late 1990s. He studied law briefly at University College Cork but left to pursue theater, where he gained early acclaim for roles in plays like Disco Pigs.Murphy’s breakout role came in Danny Boyle’s post-apocalyptic thriller 28 Days Later (2002), where his haunting performance as a survivor of a viral outbreak earned him global recognition. This led to a series of high-profile roles, including the chilling Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, and prominent parts in Red Eye (2005), Sunshine (2007), and The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006), the latter winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes. His collaboration with Nolan continued with Inception (2010), Dunkirk (2017), and reached a career peak with his portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer (2023), earning him an Academy Award, BAFTA, and Golden Globe for Best Actor.On television, Murphy achieved cult status playing Tommy Shelby, the fierce and calculating gang leader in the BBC/Netflix series Peaky Blinders (2013–2022), a role that became iconic and cemented his status as one of the greatest actors of his generation. Known for his subtlety and immersive technique, he is praised for choosing complex, often morally ambiguous characters.Despite international fame, Murphy is notably private and modest, avoiding celebrity culture. He lives in Dublin with his wife, artist Yvonne McGuinness, and their two sons. In 2025, Murphy returned to the franchise that launched his film career, both starring in and executive producing 28 Years Later—marking his continued influence and longevity in modern cinema.
Awards :
52 wins & 83 nominations
