Actor
Cillian Murphy
Based In
Ireland
Origin
Douglas, Cork, Ireland
Years Active
1996–Present
Cillian Murphy Biography
Cillian Murphy Basic Information
- Full Name: Cillian Murphy
- Nickname: Cillian
- Date of Birth: 25 May 1976
- Age: 50 years (as of 2026)
- Birthplace: Douglas, Cork, Ireland
- Nationality: Irish
- Profession: Actor, Producer
- Years Active: 1996–Present
- Current Residence: Ireland
- Marital Status: Married
- Wife: Yvonne McGuinness
- Children: 2 Sons
Physical Appearance
- Height: Approximately 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
- Eye Color: Blue
- Hair Color: Dark Brown
- Distinctive Feature: Intense blue eyes and sharp facial features
Education
- Attended University College Cork
- Initially studied Law
- Later shifted focus to acting and theater after becoming involved in stage productions
Career Highlight
| Year | Project / Achievement | Role | Career Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Disco Pigs | Pig | Professional acting debut |
| 1999 | Sunburn | Davin McDermott | Film debut |
| 2002 | 28 Days Later | Jim | International breakthrough role |
| 2003 | Girl with a Pearl Earring | Pieter | Gained wider industry recognition |
| 2005 | Batman Begins | Dr. Jonathan Crane / Scarecrow | First major Hollywood blockbuster |
| 2005 | Red Eye | Jackson Rippner | Critically praised antagonist role |
| 2005 | Breakfast on Pluto | Patrick “Kitten” Braden | Golden Globe nomination |
| 2006 | The Wind That Shakes the Barley | Damien O’Donovan | Film won Palme d’Or at Cannes |
| 2010 | Inception | Robert Fischer | Global commercial success |
| 2013 | Peaky Blinders | Tommy Shelby | Career-defining television role |
| 2017 | Dunkirk | Shivering Soldier | Acclaimed Christopher Nolan collaboration |
| 2020 | A Quiet Place Part II | Emmett | Lead role in successful horror franchise |
| 2023 | Oppenheimer | J. Robert Oppenheimer | Widely regarded as his greatest performance |
| 2024 | Academy Award Winner | J. Robert Oppenheimer | Won Oscar for Best Actor |
| 2024 | Small Things Like These | Bill Furlong | Expanded career as actor and producer |
| 2026 | Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man | Tommy Shelby | Returned to his most iconic character |
| 1996–2026 | 30 Years in Acting | — | Established as one of Ireland’s most respected actors |
Awards List
| Year | Award Association | Category | Award Name | Film / Series | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Empire Awards | Best Newcomer | Empire Awards | 28 Days Later | Nominated |
| 2003 | Irish Film & Television Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role – Film | IFTA Awards | 28 Days Later | Nominated |
| 2004 | MTV Movie Awards | Best Breakthrough Performance | MTV Movie Awards | 28 Days Later | Nominated |
| 2005 | Irish Film & Television Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Film | IFTA Awards | Batman Begins | Nominated |
| 2005 | Irish Film & Television Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role – Film | IFTA Awards | Red Eye | Nominated |
| 2005 | Satellite Awards | Best Actor – Motion Picture | Satellite Awards | Breakfast on Pluto | Nominated |
| 2006 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy | Golden Globe Awards | Breakfast on Pluto | Nominated |
| 2006 | European Film Awards | European Actor | European Film Awards | Breakfast on Pluto | Nominated |
| 2006 | European Film Awards | European Actor | European Film Awards | The Wind That Shakes the Barley | Nominated |
| 2006 | MTV Movie Awards | Best Villain | MTV Movie Awards | Batman Begins | Nominated |
| 2006 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie Villain | Teen Choice Awards | Red Eye / Batman Begins | Nominated |
| 2006 | Saturn Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Saturn Awards | Red Eye | Nominated |
| 2006 | British Independent Film Awards | Best Actor in a British Independent Film | BIFA Awards | The Wind That Shakes the Barley | Nominated |
| 2006 | GQ UK Awards | Actor of the Year | GQ Awards | Career Achievement | Won |
| 2007 | BAFTA Awards | Rising Star Award | BAFTA Awards | N/A | Nominated |
| 2007 | Irish Film & Television Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role – Film | IFTA Awards | Breakfast on Pluto | Won |
| 2007 | British Independent Film Awards | Best Actor in a British Independent Film | BIFA Awards | Sunshine | Nominated |
| 2008 | Irish Film & Television Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role – Film | IFTA Awards | The Edge of Love | Nominated |
| 2010 | Irish Film & Television Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Film | IFTA Awards | Inception | Nominated |
| 2010 | Irish Film & Television Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role – Film | IFTA Awards | Perrier’s Bounty | Nominated |
| 2011 | Irish Times Theatre Awards | Best Actor | Irish Times Theatre Awards | Misterman | Won |
| 2012 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Solo Performance | Drama Desk Awards | Misterman | Won |
| 2012 | British Independent Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | BIFA Awards | Broken | Nominated |
| 2014 | Irish Times Theatre Awards | Best Actor | Irish Times Theatre Awards | Ballyturk | Nominated |
| 2014 | FIPA Awards | Best Actor – Series | FIPA d’Or | Peaky Blinders | Won |
| 2015 | Irish Film & Television Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role – Drama | IFTA Awards | Peaky Blinders | Nominated |
| 2017 | National Television Awards | Best Drama Performance | NTA Awards | Peaky Blinders | Nominated |
| 2017 | Czech Lion Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Czech Lion Awards | Anthropoid | Nominated |
| 2017 | Irish Film & Television Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role – Drama | IFTA Awards | Peaky Blinders | Won |
| 2018 | Irish Film & Television Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role – Drama | IFTA Awards | Peaky Blinders | Won |
| 2019 | National Television Awards | Best Drama Performance | NTA Awards | Peaky Blinders | Nominated |
| 2020 | National Television Awards | Best Drama Performance | NTA Awards | Peaky Blinders | Won |
| 2020 | Irish Film & Television Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role – Drama | IFTA Awards | Peaky Blinders | Nominated |
| 2021 | Hollywood Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor | HCA Awards | A Quiet Place Part II | Won |
| 2022 | National Television Awards | Best Drama Performance | NTA Awards | Peaky Blinders | Won |
| 2022 | Critics Choice Super Awards | Best Actor in a Horror Movie | Critics Choice Super Awards | A Quiet Place Part II | Nominated |
| 2023 | BAFTA Television Awards | Best Actor | BAFTA TV Awards | Peaky Blinders | Nominated |
| 2023 | New York Film Critics Online Awards | Best Actor | NYFCO Awards | Oppenheimer | Won |
| 2023 | Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards | Best Actor | WAFCA Awards | Oppenheimer | Won |
| 2023 | Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards | Best Actor | DFWFCA Awards | Oppenheimer | Won |
| 2023 | St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards | Best Actor | StLFCA Awards | Oppenheimer | Won |
| 2023 | Dublin Film Critics’ Circle Awards | Best Actor | DFCC Awards | Oppenheimer | Won |
| 2024 | Academy Awards | Best Actor | Oscar Awards | Oppenheimer | Won |
| 2024 | BAFTA Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role | BAFTA Awards | Oppenheimer | Won |
| 2024 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama | Golden Globe Awards | Oppenheimer | Won |
| 2024 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role | SAG Awards | Oppenheimer | Won |
| 2024 | Irish Film & Television Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role – Film | IFTA Awards | Oppenheimer | Won |
| 2024 | AACTA Awards | Best Actor | AACTA Awards | Oppenheimer | Won |
| 2024 | Satellite Awards | Best Actor – Motion Picture | Satellite Awards | Oppenheimer | Won |
| 2024 | Palm Springs International Film Festival | Desert Palm Achievement Actor Award | PSIFF Awards | Oppenheimer | Won |
| 2025 | Irish Film & Television Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role – Film | IFTA Awards | Small Things Like These | Won |
| 2025 | Irish Film & Television Awards | Best Film | IFTA Awards | Small Things Like These | Won |
| 2025 | British Independent Film Awards | Best Lead Performance | BIFA Awards | Steve | Nominated |
| 2026 | BAFTA Awards | Outstanding British Film | BAFTA Awards | Steve | Nominated |
| 2026 | Irish Film & Television Awards | Lead Actor – Film | IFTA Awards | Steve | Nominated |
| 2026 | National Film Awards UK | Best Actor | National Film Awards UK | Steve | Nominated |
| 2026 | National Film Awards UK | Best Drama | National Film Awards UK | Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man | Nominated |
| 2026 | National Film Awards UK | Best Feature Film | National Film Awards UK | Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man | Nominated |
| 2026 | National Film Awards UK | Best Producer | National Film Awards UK | Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man | Nominated |
| 2026 | National Film Awards UK | Best British Film | National Film Awards UK | Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man | Nominated |
About Cillian Murphy
Cillian Murphy is an Irish actor known for Peaky Blinders, Oppenheimer, Inception, and Batman Begins.
Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders is considered his most iconic role.
Yes, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Oppenheimer in 2024.
Yes, he is married to Yvonne McGuinness.
No, he does not maintain official public social media accounts.