History of Cillian Murphy in Timeline

Cillian Murphy is a highly acclaimed Irish actor recognized for his versatile performances across stage and screen. His work has garnered significant recognition, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award, solidifying his position as one of the leading actors of his generation.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

May 1976: Cillian Murphy Born

In May 1976, Cillian Murphy, a future Irish actor known for his stage and screen work, was born. He has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award.

September 1996: Professional Acting Debut in Disco Pigs

In September 1996, Cillian Murphy made his professional acting debut on stage, playing a volatile Cork teenager in Enda Walsh's Disco Pigs. This marked the beginning of his acting career.

1996: Studied Law and Focused on Acting

In 1996, Cillian Murphy began studying law at University College Cork (UCC) but failed his first-year exams. After seeing Corcadorca's stage production of A Clockwork Orange, he began directing his attention to acting.

1996: Professional Debut in Disco Pigs

In 1996, Cillian Murphy made his professional debut in Enda Walsh's play Disco Pigs. This marked the beginning of his career in acting.

1996: Meeting Yvonne McGuinness

In 1996, Cillian Murphy met Yvonne McGuinness at one of his rock band's shows.

1998: Starred in Much Ado About Nothing

In 1998, Cillian Murphy starred in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. This role expanded his experience in theatrical productions.

1999: Starred in The Country Boy and Juno and the Paycock

In 1999, Cillian Murphy starred in The Country Boy and Juno and the Paycock. These performances enhanced his reputation in theatre.

1999: Directed in Juno and the Paycock

In 1999, Cillian Murphy was directed by Garry Hynes in the theatre productions of Juno and the Paycock. This enhanced his reputation in theatre.

2000: Appeared in Filleann an Feall

In 2000, Cillian Murphy appeared in the short film Filleann an Feall. This added to his experience in independent and short films.

2001: Move to London

In 2001, Cillian Murphy and his wife Yvonne McGuinness moved from Dublin to London so she could attend the Royal College of Art.

2001: Appeared in On the Edge, Filleann an Feall, Watchmen, and The Way We Live Now

In 2001, Cillian Murphy appeared in independent films such as On the Edge, short films including Filleann an Feall and Watchmen, and the BBC television mini-series adaptation of The Way We Live Now. During this period, he moved to London after living in Dublin for a few years.

2001: Auditioned for Breakfast on Pluto

In 2001, Cillian Murphy auditioned for the role in Neil Jordan's Breakfast on Pluto. The director was hesitant to revisit themes of transgender issues and the IRA, but Jordan liked Murphy for the part.

2001: Screen Adaptation of Disco Pigs

In 2001, Cillian Murphy reprised his role in the screen adaptation of Disco Pigs. This adaptation allowed a broader audience to view his earlier stage successes.

2002: Starred 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. His performance received praise for its subtlety and intelligence.

2002: Starred in 28 Days Later

In 2002, Cillian Murphy starred in Danny Boyle's horror film 28 Days Later, portraying Jim. The role significantly raised his profile and put him in front of a mass audience.

2003: Played Konstantine 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. This performance showcased his interest in complex and transformative characters.

2003: Starred in Intermission and Cold Mountain

In 2003, Cillian Murphy starred as a supermarket stocker in Intermission and had a supporting role in Cold Mountain. Intermission became the highest-grossing Irish independent film at the Irish box office. Cold Mountain, a successful Hollywood period drama, saw Murphy portray a deserting soldier.

2003: Starred in Intermission

In 2003, Cillian Murphy starred in the dark comedy Intermission. This film showcased his versatility in comedic roles.

2004: Marriage to Yvonne McGuinness

In 2004, Cillian Murphy married his longtime girlfriend Yvonne McGuinness, whom he had met in 1996.

2004: Prepared for Role in Breakfast on Pluto

In 2004, Cillian Murphy prepared for his role in Breakfast on Pluto by meeting a transvestite who helped him with his appearance and took him clubbing with other transvestites. This preparation underscored his commitment to the role.

2004: Nominated for Awards for 28 Days Later

In 2004, Cillian Murphy received nominations for Best Newcomer at the 8th Empire Awards and Breakthrough Male Performance at the MTV Movie Awards for his role in 28 Days Later. This recognized his breakthrough performance in the film.

2004: Toured Ireland with Druid Theatre Company

In 2004, Cillian Murphy toured Ireland with the Druid Theatre Company in The Playboy of the Western World, playing Christy Mahon. This added to his experience in theatre performances.

2005: Birth of first son

In 2005, Cillian Murphy and his wife Yvonne McGuinness had their first son.

2005: Starred in Batman Begins and Red Eye

In 2005, Cillian Murphy appeared as Dr. Jonathan Crane in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins and starred as Jackson Rippner in Wes Craven's thriller Red Eye. These roles showcased his ability to play both villains and complex characters.

2005: Began Collaboration with Christopher Nolan

In 2005, Cillian Murphy began his collaboration with Christopher Nolan, playing the Scarecrow in The Dark Knight trilogy. This collaboration marked a significant turning point in his career.

2005: Received Nominations for Villainous Roles

In 2005, Cillian Murphy received several award nominations for his villainous roles, particularly in Batman Begins. This recognition highlighted his ability to portray complex and sinister characters.

2005: Starred in Breakfast on Pluto

In 2005, Cillian Murphy starred as Patrick/"Kitten" Braden, a transgender Irish woman, in Neil Jordan's comedy-drama Breakfast on Pluto, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination and recognition for his performance.

November 2006: Starring in 'Love Song' at New Ambassadors Theatre

In November 2006, Cillian Murphy began starring opposite Neve Campbell in John Kolvenbach's play 'Love Song' at London's New Ambassadors Theatre, playing the lead role of Beane. His performance was described as captivating, showcasing a character that transitions from shy to garrulous.

2006: Nominated for Best Villain at MTV Movie Awards

In 2006, Cillian Murphy received a nomination for Best Villain at the MTV Movie Awards for his role in Batman Begins. This further acknowledged his successful portrayal of villainous characters.

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. This film became the most successful Irish independent film at the Irish box office and earned Murphy the GQ Actor of the Year award.

2006: The Wind That Shakes the Barley Broke Record

In 2006, The Wind That Shakes the Barley broke the box office record previously held by Intermission in 2003, to become the highest-grossing Irish independent film in Irish box office history.

2007: Shift towards atheism

Following his role in the 2007 film Sunshine, Cillian Murphy shifted towards atheism.

2007: Birth of second son

In 2007, Cillian Murphy and his wife Yvonne McGuinness had their second son.

2007: Participating in Rock the Vote Ireland campaign

In 2007, Cillian Murphy participated in the Rock the Vote Ireland campaign, aiming to engage young voters for the general election.

2007: Film releases and shelved project

In 2007, Cillian Murphy starred in the science fiction film 'Sunshine' as a physicist-astronaut and in the romantic comedy 'Watching the Detectives' opposite Lucy Liu. He also filmed 'Hippie Hippie Shake' as Richard Neville, but the project was delayed and eventually shelved in 2011.

2007: Starred in Sunshine

In 2007, Cillian Murphy starred in the science fiction thriller Sunshine. This added to his repertoire of roles in diverse film genres.

July 2008: Appearance in 'The Dark Knight' and on Irish postage stamp

In July 2008, Cillian Murphy briefly reappeared as the Scarecrow in 'The Dark Knight'. Additionally, An Post, the Irish Post Office, released a series of stamps featuring Murphy in a still from 'The Wind That Shakes the Barley', honouring Irish film creativity.

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April 2009: Starring in short film 'The Water'

In April 2009, Cillian Murphy starred opposite Feist in 'The Water', a 15-minute short film directed by Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene. He was drawn to the role by his admiration for Broken Social Scene and the opportunity to make a silent movie.

2010: Appeared in Inception

In 2010, Cillian Murphy appeared in Inception. This added to his filmography of collaborations with Christopher Nolan.

2010: First television talk show appearance

In 2010, Cillian Murphy made his first appearance on a television talk show, appearing on Ireland's Late Late Show to promote 'Perrier's Bounty'.

2010: Return to theatre and roles in 'Peacock' and 'Inception'

In 2010, Cillian Murphy returned to theatre in 'From Galway to Broadway and back again'. He also starred in the psychological thriller 'Peacock' as a man with a split personality and in Christopher Nolan's 'Inception' as Robert Fischer. Additionally, Murphy made an uncredited cameo in 'Tron: Legacy'.

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2011: Became Patron of the 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, showing his support for children and family research.

2011: Performance in 'Misterman' and roles in 'Retreat' and 'In Time'

In 2011, Cillian Murphy performed in the stage monodrama 'Misterman', earning critical acclaim and awards. He also played the lead in the British horror film 'Retreat' and appeared in the science fiction film 'In Time'.

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2011: 'Hippie Hippie Shake' shelved

In 2011, the film 'Hippie Hippie Shake', which Cillian Murphy had filmed in 2007, was eventually shelved after 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, commending them for highlighting important national issues.

2012: Continued Role in The Dark Knight Trilogy

In 2012, Cillian Murphy continued his role as Scarecrow in The Dark Knight trilogy. This further solidified his prominence in mainstream cinema.

2012: Starring 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 also reprised his role as the Scarecrow in 'The Dark Knight Rises' and had a supporting role in 'Broken', earning a British Independent Film Award nomination.

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2013: Starring in 'Peaky Blinders'

In 2013, Cillian Murphy began starring as Thomas Shelby in the BBC television series 'Peaky Blinders', a role for which he was ultimately cast after convincing the director of his acting abilities. The series received high ratings and critical praise.

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: Broadcast of 'Peaky Blinders' Second Series

In October 2014, the second series of 'Peaky Blinders', starring Cillian Murphy, began broadcasting on the BBC.

2014: Starring in 'Aloft' and 'Transcendence', Reunion with Enda Walsh

In 2014, Cillian Murphy starred in the drama 'Aloft' and 'Transcendence', both of which received unfavorable reviews. He also reunited with Enda Walsh in the play 'Ballyturk'.

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2015: Return to Dublin

After 14 years in London, Cillian Murphy and his wife moved back to Dublin in 2015.

2015: Starring in 'In the Heart of the Sea' and contributing to Paul Hartnoll's album

In 2015, Cillian Murphy starred in Ron Howard's film 'In the Heart of the Sea'. He also contributed spoken vocals to the tracks '8:58' and 'The Clock' from Paul Hartnoll's album '8:58'.

2015: Named one of GQ's 50 best-dressed men

In 2015, Cillian Murphy was named one of GQ's 50 best-dressed men, recognizing his fashion sense.

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.

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2017: Appeared in Dunkirk

In 2017, Cillian Murphy appeared in Dunkirk. This marked another collaboration with Christopher Nolan.

2017: Reaction to "Disappointed Cillian Murphy" meme

In 2017, Cillian Murphy, when asked about the "Disappointed Cillian Murphy" meme, responded by asking, "What's a meme?". This highlights his lack of engagement with social media and internet culture.

2018: Support for Irish referendum to repeal the eighth amendment

In 2018, Cillian Murphy supported the Irish referendum to repeal the eighth amendment, advocating for women's rights and urging men to vote in favor of the referendum on The Blindboy Podcast.

June 2019: Role in film 'Anna'

In June 2019, Cillian Murphy played the role of Miller in the film 'Anna'.

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August 2019: Broadcast of 'Peaky Blinders' Season 5

On August 25, 2019, the first episode of season 5 of 'Peaky Blinders', starring Cillian Murphy, was broadcast on BBC One.

2019: Catholic faith shaped his morality

In 2019, Cillian Murphy stated that the Catholic faith still shaped his morality.

2020: Starred in A Quiet Place Part II

In 2020, Cillian Murphy starred in the horror sequel A Quiet Place Part II. This role showcased his versatility in horror films.

2020: Hosting 'Cillian Murphy's Limited Edition' on BBC Radio 6 Music

Since 2020, Cillian Murphy has hosted 'Cillian Murphy's Limited Edition', a radio series on BBC Radio 6 Music where he shares his personal music collection and answers listener questions.

2021: Filming of 'Peaky Blinders' Season 6

Director Anthony Byrne mentioned that in 2021, filming for season 6 of 'Peaky Blinders' was expected to commence in January and conclude around May or June, followed by six months of editing.

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.

February 2022: 'Peaky Blinders' Series Six Premiered

In February 2022, series six of 'Peaky Blinders' premiered, featuring Cillian Murphy as the lead.

2022: Continued Role in Peaky Blinders

In 2022, Cillian Murphy continued his role as Tommy Shelby in the BBC period drama series Peaky Blinders. This ongoing role further solidified his status as a prominent actor.

2022: Returned to vegetarianism

In a 2022 interview, Cillian Murphy mentioned that he had returned to vegetarianism.

2023: Named in Variety's list of influential figures

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.

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2023: Portrayed J. Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer

In 2023, Cillian Murphy portrayed J. Robert Oppenheimer in Nolan's Oppenheimer, for which he won the BAFTA and Academy Award for Best Actor. This role marked a pinnacle in his career.

2023: Starring in 'Oppenheimer'

In 2023, Cillian Murphy starred as J. Robert Oppenheimer in the biographical thriller 'Oppenheimer', marking his first lead role in a Nolan film. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $975 million worldwide, and Murphy received several awards for his performance, including a Golden Globe, BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild Award, and an Academy Award.

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February 2024: Launch of Big Things Films and Opening of Berlin International Film Festival

In February 2024, Cillian Murphy launched the independent production company Big Things Films with Alan Moloney. Additionally, he produced and starred in the historical drama 'Small Things like These', which opened the 74th Berlin International Film Festival.

2024: Ongoing production of 'Cillian Murphy's Limited Edition'

As of 2024, three seasons, totaling 28 episodes, of Cillian Murphy's radio series 'Limited Edition' have been produced for BBC Radio 6 Music.

2024: New face of Versace

In 2024, Cillian Murphy was announced as the new face of the Italian luxury fashion company Versace, marking his entry into high fashion endorsements.