Batman films (2005-2012)
While initially asked to audition for the role of protagonist Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins (2005), Cillian Murphy didn’t think he had the physique of a superhero. (The part would ultimately go to Christian Bale.) Nonetheless, he decided to meet with Christopher Nolan, who offered him the role of the franchise villain, Dr. Jonathan Crane, also known as the Scarecrow. Murphy accepted and reprised his role in the two subsequent films, The Dark Knight in 2008, and The Dark Knight Rises in 2012.
The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006)
In 2006, Cillian Murphy took on the lead role in The Wind That Shakes the Barley, a film about the complexities of the Irish War of Independence during the 1920s. The drama, which was awarded the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, holds a special place in Murphy’s heart as it was filmed in County Cork, Ireland—his hometown.
Sunshine (2007)
Before portraying Robert Oppenheimer, Murphy had already ventured into the realm of nuclear science in the film Sunshine. He plays a physicist-astronaut from the year 2057 tasked with reigniting the dying sun to save humanity. Once again, Murphy carries heavy responsibilities on his shoulders…
Inception (2010)
In Inception, the realm of dreams becomes a perilous playground. Christopher Nolan’s film, which garnered a staggering eight Oscar nominations, stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb, a specialist in “extraction”—the clandestine acquisition of the deepest, most guarded secrets nestled within a person’s subconscious during slumber. Robert Fischer (Cillian Murphy), a commercial heir, becomes one of Cobb’s targets.
Peaky Blinders (2013-2022)
In Peaky Blinders, Murphy shines as Tommy Shelby, an integral member of the Shelby clan: Embedded in gritty, post-World War I Birmingham, Tommy is as charismatic as he is aggressive. The BBC series earned acclaim for its compelling storytelling across six season, resonating with both critics and audiences. And now, the saga of the Shelby siblings—known for their flat caps and razor-sharp wits—is poised to culminate in an eagerly anticipated film.
Dunkirk (2017)
Nolan’s Dunkirk revisits Operation Dynamo, a bloody chapter in World War II that involved evacuating Allied troops surrounded by the German army in Dunkirk, northern France, in May 1940. (Murphy plays one of the British soldiers stranded on Normandy’s beaches.) Awarded three Oscars, the historical epic became highest-grossing film about World War II—that is, until the release of Oppenheimer.
Oppenheimer (2023)
With his portrait of Robert Oppenheimer, Nolan tells an extraordinary story, delving into the physicist’s political, moral, personal, and familial odysseys. It’s a powerful and bewildering historical narrative, with a sublime Murphy at its center. The juries of major awards ceremonies agreed, giving him a BAFTA, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Oscar.
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