The actor tells Vanity Fair he was “pretty broken” and “worn out” after wrapping his Oscar-winning Oppenheimer turn. But his next project demanded a similarly intense performance.
Before stepping onto the set of Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy had a clear vision for his first production project. In 2021, while hosting his longtime friend and Peaky Blinders director Tim Mielants in Dublin, they brainstormed ideas for a new film. Inspired by his wife, visual artist Yvonne McGuinness, Murphy decided to adapt Claire Keegan’s acclaimed novella, Small Things Like These, which addresses a painful chapter in Irish history. Miraculously, the rights were available, and he jumped at the chance to bring the story to life.
However, Murphy faced a significant obstacle: his role in Oppenheimer, which would earn him an Oscar. Surprisingly, working on this blockbuster became a catalyst for getting Small Things Like These off the ground. During filming, he shared the script with Matt Damon, who immediately connected with the project. Murphy pitched it as thematically aligned with Manchester by the Sea, a film Damon produced, and soon, Damon signed on to produce through Artists Equity.
Set in the small Irish town of New Ross in 1985, Small Things Like These follows Bill Furlong, a coal merchant who discovers the dark secrets of a local convent. These events echo the real-life Magdalene Laundries, where Catholic nuns historically isolated unmarried mothers from their children. Furlong’s journey involves confronting both community power dynamics and his own personal history, making for a deeply resonant narrative.
Murphy reflects on the complexity of the story: “It’s massively intertwined with Irish history and trauma,” he notes. The film explores how societal expectations shape emotional expression, especially for men in Ireland during that time.
Director Mielants emphasized the emotional weight of Murphy’s character, describing Bill’s journey as a “beautiful volcano of emotions.” He praised Murphy’s ability to convey profound vulnerability, revealing the actor’s remarkable talent.
After the intense experience of Oppenheimer, which left Murphy physically and mentally drained, returning to the set of Small Things Like These was both a challenge and a relief. Filming in Ireland brought a sense of home, but the weight of Bill’s trauma was palpable, especially during emotionally charged scenes. “It does exact a bit of a cost,” Murphy admitted.
In addition to acting, Murphy took on extensive producing responsibilities, collaborating with familiar faces like screenwriter Enda Walsh and actress Eileen Walsh, further enriching the film’s personal touch.
Small Things Like These is set for a theatrical release on November 8, following its debut at the Berlin International Film Festival, where it received acclaim and a supporting actor award for Emily Watson. Murphy’s powerful performance is already sparking Oscar conversations, as he once again proves his versatility and depth as an actor.
In this new role, Murphy finds excitement in creating a film that invites the audience to reflect without the need for explicit dialogue. “You don’t need to say anything—you can feel it or think it, and the audience gets it,” he shares. With Small Things Like These, Cillian Murphy is poised to make a significant impact once more.
