Career Timeline of Cillian Murphy: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of Cillian Murphy, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Cillian Murphy is a highly acclaimed Irish actor recognized for his versatile performances across stage and screen. He has received numerous prestigious awards, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award, solidifying his status as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
September 1996: Professional Acting Debut in Disco Pigs
In September 1996, Cillian Murphy made his professional acting debut on stage in Enda Walsh's Disco Pigs at the Corcadorca Theatre Company. Originally planned for a three-week run in Cork, Disco Pigs toured Europe, Canada, and Australia for two years, leading Murphy to leave university and his band to pursue acting.
1996: Professional Debut in Disco Pigs
In 1996, Cillian Murphy made his professional acting debut in Enda Walsh's play Disco Pigs.
1998: Starring in Much Ado About Nothing
In 1998, Cillian Murphy starred in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.
1999: Theatre Productions of Juno and the Paycock
Back in 1999, Garry Hynes directed Cillian Murphy in the theatre productions of Juno and the Paycock.
1999: Acting in The Country Boy and Juno and the Paycock
In 1999, Cillian Murphy acted in The Country Boy and Juno and the Paycock.
2000: Appearing in Filleann an Feall
In 2000, Cillian Murphy appeared in the short film Filleann an Feall.
2001: Acting in Multiple Productions
In 2001, Cillian Murphy appeared in the film On the Edge, the short film Watchmen, the film adaption of Disco Pigs, and the BBC television mini-series adaptation of The Way We Live Now. He also moved from Cork to Dublin and then to London.
2001: Auditioned for Breakfast on Pluto
In 2001, Cillian Murphy auditioned for the role of Patrick/"Kitten" Braden in Breakfast on Pluto.
2001: Screen Adaptation of Disco Pigs
In 2001, Cillian Murphy reprised his role in the screen adaptation of Disco Pigs.
2002: Starring in The Shape of Things
In 2002, Cillian Murphy starred as Adam in a theatre production of Neil LaBute's The Shape of Things at the Gate Theatre in Dublin, receiving praise for his performance.
2002: Starring in 28 Days Later
In 2002, Cillian Murphy starred in the horror film 28 Days Later.
2003: Acting in Intermission
In 2003, Cillian Murphy acted in the dark comedy Intermission.
2003: Starring in The Seagull
In 2003, Cillian Murphy played the role of Konstantine in a stage production of Chekhov's The Seagull at the Edinburgh International Festival.
2003: Starring in Intermission and Cold Mountain
In 2003, Cillian Murphy starred in Intermission, which became the highest-grossing Irish independent film in Irish box office history at the time. He also had a minor supporting role in the Hollywood period drama Cold Mountain and Girl with a Pearl Earring.
2004: Preparation for Breakfast on Pluto Role
In 2004, Cillian Murphy prepared for the role in Breakfast on Pluto by meeting a transvestite who dressed him and took him clubbing with other transvestites.
2004: Touring Ireland with Druid Theatre Company
In 2004, Cillian Murphy toured Ireland with the Druid Theatre Company in The Playboy of the Western World, playing the character of Christy Mahon, and also in The Country Boy, under the direction of Garry Hynes.
2005: Roles in Batman Begins and Red Eye
In 2005, Cillian Murphy appeared as Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins. He also starred as Jackson Rippner in Wes Craven's thriller, Red Eye.
2005: Acting in Red Eye and Breakfast on Pluto
In 2005, Cillian Murphy appeared in the thriller Red Eye and the comedy-drama Breakfast on Pluto, earning a Golden Globe nomination for the latter.
2005: Collaboration with Christopher Nolan Begins
In 2005, Cillian Murphy began his collaboration with Christopher Nolan, playing the Scarecrow in The Dark Knight trilogy.
2005: Recognition for Villainous Roles
In 2005, Cillian Murphy received recognition for his villainous roles. Entertainment Weekly ranked him among its "Summer MVPs".
2005: Starred in Breakfast on Pluto
In 2005, Cillian Murphy starred as Patrick/"Kitten" Braden in Neil Jordan's comedy-drama Breakfast on Pluto, based on the novel of the same title. Murphy was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and won an Irish Film and Television Academy Best Actor Award for his performance.
November 2006: Starring in 'Love Song' at New Ambassadors Theatre
In November 2006, Cillian Murphy starred opposite Neve Campbell in John Kolvenbach's play 'Love Song' at the New Ambassadors Theatre in London's West End, playing the lead role of Beane.
2006: Starred in The Wind That Shakes the Barley
In 2006, Cillian Murphy starred in The Wind That Shakes the Barley, which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and became the most successful Irish independent film at the Irish box office. He won GQ magazine's Actor of the Year award for his work in the film.
2006: The Wind That Shakes the Barley Breaks Record
In 2006, The Wind That Shakes the Barley broke the box office record that had previously been held by Intermission.
February 2007: Concluding run in 'Love Song'
In February 2007, Cillian Murphy concluded his run in the play 'Love Song' at the New Ambassadors Theatre in London's West End, where he starred opposite Neve Campbell.
2007: Acting in Sunshine
In 2007, Cillian Murphy appeared in the science fiction thriller Sunshine.
2007: Participating in Rock the Vote Ireland campaign
In 2007, Cillian Murphy participated in the Rock the Vote Ireland campaign, targeting young voters for the general election, and campaigned for the rights of the homeless with the organisation Focus Ireland.
2007: Role in Sunshine and Shift Towards Atheism
In 2007, Cillian Murphy starred in the film Sunshine as a physicist and astronaut, which influenced his views, shifting them towards atheism.
2007: Acting in Sunshine, Watching the Detectives, and Hippie Hippie Shake
In 2007, Cillian Murphy starred in the science fiction film 'Sunshine' as a physicist-astronaut. He also starred opposite Lucy Liu in 'Watching the Detectives', a romantic comedy that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Additionally, he starred as Richard Neville in 'Hippie Hippie Shake', filmed in 2007 but shelved in 2011.
April 2009: Starring in 'The Water'
In April 2009, Cillian Murphy starred in 'The Water', a 15-minute Canadian short film directed by Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene, opposite Feist and David Fox. The film was released online and features a Feist song of the same title.
2010: Appearing in Inception
In 2010, Cillian Murphy appeared in Christopher Nolan's film Inception.
2010: Return to theatre, Peacock, Inception, Tron cameo
In 2010, Cillian Murphy returned to theatre in 'From Galway to Broadway and back again'. He starred in the direct-to-video psychological thriller 'Peacock' and Christopher Nolan's 'Inception', playing Robert Fischer. Additionally, he made an uncredited cameo in 'Tron: Legacy' as Edward Dillinger Jr.
2011: Patron of UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre
In 2011, Cillian Murphy became a patron of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at the National University of Ireland Galway.
2011: Starring in Misterman, Retreat, and In Time
In 2011, Cillian Murphy performed in the stage monodrama 'Misterman', earning critical acclaim. He also played the lead in the British horror film 'Retreat' and appeared in the science fiction film 'In Time'.
2011: Hippie Hippie Shake shelved
In 2011, the film 'Hippie Hippie Shake', in which Cillian Murphy starred as Richard Neville, was shelved after being filmed in 2007 and experiencing significant delays.
February 2012: Message of support to Vita Cortex workers
In February 2012, Cillian Murphy wrote a message of support to the former Vita Cortex workers involved in a sit-in at their plant.
2012: Concluding The Dark Knight Trilogy
In 2012, Cillian Murphy finished his role as Scarecrow in The Dark Knight trilogy.
2012: Acting in Red Lights, The Dark Knight Rises, and Broken
In 2012, Cillian Murphy starred in 'Red Lights' with Robert De Niro and Sigourney Weaver. He reprised his role as the Scarecrow in 'The Dark Knight Rises' and had a supporting role in the British independent film 'Broken'.
2013: Starring as Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders
In 2013, Cillian Murphy began starring as Thomas Shelby in the BBC television series 'Peaky Blinders', a series about a criminal gang in Birmingham during the post-World War I period.
2013: Gaining Prominence in Peaky Blinders
In 2013, Cillian Murphy gained greater prominence for his role as Tommy Shelby in the BBC period drama series Peaky Blinders.
2013: Directorial debut with music video
In 2013, Cillian Murphy made his directorial debut with a music video for the band Money's single 'Hold Me Forever'.
October 2014: Second series of Peaky Blinders began broadcasting
In October 2014, the second series of Peaky Blinders, starring Cillian Murphy as Thomas Shelby, began broadcasting on the BBC.
2014: Starring in Aloft and Transcendence
In 2014, Cillian Murphy starred in the drama 'Aloft' and Wally Pfister's 'Transcendence'.
2015: Contributing spoken vocals to tracks
In 2015, Cillian Murphy contributed spoken vocals to the tracks '8:58' and 'The Clock' from Paul Hartnoll's album '8:58'. He also starred in Ron Howard's film 'In the Heart of the Sea'.
2016: Starring in Free Fire and Anthropoid
In 2016, Cillian Murphy starred in Ben Wheatley's 'Free Fire' and portrayed Jozef Gabčík in 'Anthropoid', a film about the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich.
2017: Appearing in Dunkirk
In 2017, Cillian Murphy appeared in Christopher Nolan's film Dunkirk.
2018: Support of Irish referendum
In 2018, Cillian Murphy supported the Irish referendum to repeal the eighth amendment of the constitution, appearing on The Blindboy Podcast to urge men to support women and vote in favor of the referendum.
June 2019: Anna release
In June 2019, the feature film 'Anna' was released, in which Cillian Murphy played the role of Miller.
August 2019: First episode of Peaky Blinders season 5 broadcast
On August 25, 2019, the first episode of season 5 of Peaky Blinders, starring Cillian Murphy as Thomas Shelby, was broadcast on BBC One.
2020: Starring in A Quiet Place Part II
In 2020, Cillian Murphy starred in the horror sequel A Quiet Place Part II.
2020: Hosting Cillian Murphy's Limited Edition
Since 2020, Cillian Murphy has hosted 'Cillian Murphy's Limited Edition', a radio series on BBC Radio 6 Music.
2021: Starring in A Quiet Place Part II
In 2021, Cillian Murphy starred as Emmett in 'A Quiet Place Part II', playing a hardened survivor.
2021: Peaky Blinders series 6 production delayed
In 2021, production of the sixth series of 'Peaky Blinders', starring Cillian Murphy, was delayed, with filming expected to finish in May or June and editing taking another 6 months.
February 2022: Series six of Peaky Blinders premiered
On February 27, 2022, series six of 'Peaky Blinders', starring Cillian Murphy as Thomas Shelby, premiered.
2022: Concluding Peaky Blinders
In 2022, Cillian Murphy finished his role as Tommy Shelby in the BBC period drama series Peaky Blinders.
2023: Most Influential Figures of 2023
Following the success of Oppenheimer and the Barbenheimer phenomenon, Cillian Murphy was named in Variety's list of the most influential figures of 2023 in the entertainment and media industry.
2023: Starring in Oppenheimer and Winning Awards
In 2023, Cillian Murphy portrayed J. Robert Oppenheimer in Nolan's Oppenheimer, for which he won the BAFTA and Academy Award for Best Actor.
2023: Portraying J. Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer
In 2023, Cillian Murphy portrayed J. Robert Oppenheimer in the biographical thriller 'Oppenheimer'. The film was a box-office success and garnered positive reviews, with Murphy winning several awards for his performance.
February 2024: Launching Big Things Films and starring in Small Things like These
In February 2024, Cillian Murphy launched the independent production company Big Things Films with Alan Moloney. He also produced and starred in the historical drama 'Small Things like These', which opened the 74th Berlin International Film Festival.
2024: Limited Edition radio series continued
As of 2024, three seasons of Cillian Murphy's 'Limited Edition' radio series have been produced, totaling 28 episodes.
2024: New face of Versace
In 2024, Cillian Murphy was announced as the new face of Italian luxury fashion company Versace.
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