The name of Cillian Murphy has been echoing everywhere since the release of the phenomenon Oppenheimer last summer in theaters. (Lest you forget, it was the same day as Barbie, Greta Gerwig’s all-pink blockbuster, which garnered significant attention for both films.) Helmed by the masterful Christopher Nolan, the film featuresMurphy (and his mesmerizing blue eyes) as the father of the atomic bomb, Robert Oppenheimer. While this isn’t Murphy’s first collaboration with Nolan—he has previously appeared in Nolan’s Batman trilogy, as well as Inception and Dunkirk—the Irish actor has consistently cultivated an ethos of dedication and cinematic excellence, contributing to the flourishing of his career alongside the acclaimed filmmaker.
Initially passionate about music, Murphy played in a rock band before taking his first steps into theater, then appearing in several independent films in the late 1990s. In 2002, Danny Boyle’s post-apocalyptic film 28 Days Later was a huge box-office success, and introduced him to a wider audience. This was followed by impressive performances in Nolan’s films, another film for Boyle, and the iconic role of Thomas Shelby in the award-winning series Peaky Blinders. Let’s take a closer look.
Batman films (2005-2012)
Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection