Cillian Murphy, the 47-year-old Irish actor, is widely predicted to be a top contender for the 2024 Oscar for Best Actor. Known for his captivating blue eyes and incredible acting talent, Murphy has continued to rise as one of the most admired stars in Hollywood.
In Christopher Nolan’s latest film, Oppenheimer, Murphy plays J. Robert Oppenheimer, the “father of the atomic bomb.” The movie opens and closes with Murphy’s face, specifically his eyes, conveying the complexities of Oppenheimer’s emotions. After the successful Trinity Test, his character experiences a wave of mixed feelings—pride, joy, regret, and dread. While others celebrate, Oppenheimer foresees the devastating consequences his creation will unleash.
Co-stars have compared Murphy’s piercing blue eyes to the power of a nuclear weapon. Matt Damon, who played Leslie Groves in the film, remarked that at times he felt as if he were “swimming in Murphy’s eyes.” Emily Blunt, who portrayed Kitty Oppenheimer, said, “His eyes are like the song Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish—we’re lost in them all day.”
A Top Contender for the 2024 Oscars
Critics have praised Murphy’s portrayal of Oppenheimer. Max Weiss commented that Murphy perfectly captured the scientist’s dual nature: brilliant in science but reckless in life, outwardly confident but inwardly doubtful, striving for success but haunted by guilt. Thanks to Murphy’s performance, audiences see Oppenheimer not as a hero or villain, but as a deeply human character.
The Power of His Eyes in Previous Roles
Murphy has consistently used his expressive eyes to bring complex characters to life. Director Danny Boyle, who cast Murphy in 28 Days Later (2002) and Sunshine (2007), has long admired this quality. It was Murphy’s “crazy eyes” that also caught Christopher Nolan’s attention, leading to his casting as Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow in Batman Begins (2005). Nolan remarked that during close-ups, he always found reasons for Murphy to remove his glasses to emphasize his expressive eyes.
Murphy continued to collaborate with Nolan, appearing in The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception (2010), and Dunkirk (2017). Across these films, Murphy’s characters often shared a sense of inner conflict and transformation. His portrayal of Robert Fischer in Inception was particularly lauded, showing a transition from confusion and vulnerability to resolution and strength.
Rising Fame with Peaky Blinders
Murphy achieved widespread recognition with his role as Tommy Shelby in the hit series Peaky Blinders (2013-2022). His performance as the sharp, emotionally complex leader of a 1920s Birmingham gang was critically acclaimed. Murphy’s piercing gaze became a hallmark of the show, expressing Tommy’s cold demeanor and inner turmoil.
For his role as Tommy Shelby, Murphy earned a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor in 2018. Screenwriter Steven Knight highlighted Murphy’s transformative ability, saying that the actor’s real-life personality was the complete opposite of the ruthless Tommy.
A Private Life Focused on Craft
Despite his fame, Cillian Murphy leads a quiet, private life and avoids social media. He is known for being reserved during interviews, often preferring to let his work speak for itself. For the role of Oppenheimer, Murphy spent six months preparing, reading the biography American Prometheus and drastically losing weight to embody the physicist’s frailty.
Co-star Emily Blunt revealed that Murphy’s dedication led him to eat very little during filming, once subsisting on just one almond a day. Murphy himself shared that he was so immersed in the role that he barely thought about food or anything else, working up to 18-hour days.
A Versatile and Humble Star
Throughout his career, Cillian Murphy has consistently sought out challenging and diverse roles, avoiding being typecast. In his words, “I don’t want to be limited in acting. If you’ve ever acted well, you can easily get boxed in and become rigid. I always try to do difficult and diverse roles, never limit myself.”
Born in Cork, Ireland, Murphy originally aspired to be a rock musician before discovering his passion for acting. After studying drama, he left law school to pursue a career in theatre, eventually transitioning to film. His decision has paid off, with The Irish Times naming him one of Ireland’s greatest film actors in 2020.
Murphy’s blend of talent, humility, and dedication makes him one of the most intriguing actors in modern cinema, with fans eagerly awaiting his next performances.
