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Actor Profile: Cillian Murphy

Actor Profile: Cillian Murphy

Actor Profile: Cillian Murphy

The quietly consistent career of Cillian Murphy, is one that has seen him become a sure-fire presence in British and American cinema. He has always been difficult to categorise, as he’s so far removed from the typical mainstream actors, but he boasts a level of versatility much greater than many of his contemporaries. A serial collaborator with both Christopher Nolan and Danny Boyle, he has taken part in some of the most memorable films of the 21st century. These days, he’s known for playing big-time gangster Tommy Shelby, in TV series Peaky Blindersbut it’s his movies where he really shines.

A native of Cork, Ireland, Murphy could have taken a very different path, as he started his performing career as a rock musician. He turned down a record label and pursued acting instead, making his feature film debut in Disco PigsWhile he continued to work on stage throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, he appeared in various Irish films, including On The Edge and Intermission.

Gradually, Cillian Murphy has worked his way into mainstream movies, having caught the attention of many famous directors, who gave him the chance to play interesting characters, like Scarecrow in the The Dark Knight trilogy, and “Kitten”, a trans woman, in Breakfast on Pluto. So, let’s take a look back at his best work in chronological order, and don’t worry, no major spoilers will be given away here.

28 Days Later (2002)

Actor Profile: Cillian Murphy
source: Fox Searchlight Pictures

What would your reaction be to waking up from a coma in an abandoned city, overrun by zombies? Well, in 28 Days Later, the zombies are technically just infected people, but they still make for an unnerving, bloodthirsty apocalypse. I see it as one of the greatest zombie movies of all time, and it is widely accepted as an iconic film within the genre. Cillian Murphy portrays Jim, a pandemic survivor, who awakes from a coma in a London hospital, 28 days after the zombie outbreak.

This film was Murphy’s first taste of mainstream success and he delivers an electrifying performance. His character evolves from a confused bystander to a resilient hero. Jim’s drastic change occurs in the second half of the film and Murphy‘s portrayal is utterly convincing. At points, he becomes the predator in order to save his fellow survivors. Addressing the film’s violence and darkness, he said, “It’s all hypothetical, but I’d say you could access places there. I’d say anybody could. And that’s what the film is investigating.”

28 Days Later is an important staple in the horror canon, with its use of fast running zombies, but it’s also a major point in Cillian Murphy’s filmography, as it marked the first time he was seen by a mass audience. 28 Days Later is above all, much deeper than just a zombie film, as it explores moral complexities and human nature.

Batman Begins (2005)

Actor Profile: Cillian Murphy
source: Warner Bros. Pictures

Following the critical failure of Batman & Robin, the best thing to do for the future of Batman, was to start from scratch. Enter Batman BeginsChristopher Nolan’s first foray into the superhero genre. Here he takes a much darker and realistic approach. The film tells the origin story of Bruce Wayne from the ground-up. It details his initial fear of bats, the death of his parents, how he becomes Batman, and his battle to save Gotham City from Ra’s al Ghul (Liam Neeson) and Scarecrow (Murphy), who seek to destroy it.

When you look at Cillian Murphy‘s depiction of Scarecrow, it’s like he was born to play the role. Ironically, he actually did a screen test for the role of Bruce Wayne, but wasn’t right for the part. Instead, Nolan cast him as Dr. Johnathan Crane/Scarecrow, which was clearly the right choice. Murphy completely inhabits the character and is so convincing as a mad psychiatrist. He creates a truly memorable villain, one who wears a terrifying mask and is obsessed with the psychology of fear. He also features in the next two entries in the trilogy, playing smaller roles, but he still keeps the creep-factor intact.

Red Eye (2005)

Actor Profile: Cillian Murphy
source: DreamWorks Pictures

Directed by the legendary “Master of Horror”, Wes Craven – Red Eye is a claustrophobic, heart-pounding thriller. Here Cillian Murphy is a picture-perfect villain. He plays Jackson Ripner, who at first seems like a charming man when he meets the movie’s hero, Lisa (Rachel McAdams), while waiting to board a plane. It appears to be a random encounter with mutual interest. The two engage in friendly, almost flirtatious conversation during their flight, until Jackson turns nasty. Why? Because he’s really an agent working for an organisation, who have pin-pointed Lisa as the key to their assassination plot.

Red Eye is ultimately a fight between a woman and a man, relying on pure tension and suspense. At times, this film is a little hard to believe, particularly in the latter half, but it is extremely well put together and rides on the performances of its leads. Murphy transforms into a crazed, violent and ruthless villain. He plays a character vastly different from those in his other films. This is mainly because we don’t know anything about him.  Cillian Murphy said “The point is your character’s there for a function … That’s the importance of it. I like the fact he just appears and he’s there and you don’t know why…” So, he’s an antagonist shrouded in mystery, with a backstory that likely exists off-screen. In the end, this an entertaining and relentlessly thrilling addition to Murphy’s filmography.

Inception (2010)

Actor Profile: Cillian Murphy
source: Warner Bros. Pictures

Dream invasions, non-stop action and mind-bending thrills, with Cillian Murphy playing a key role: Inception is one of Nolan’s most conceptually ambitious films in his career so far. The plot is complex and confusing on the first watch. In short, it follows Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his team of extractors, who steal valuable information from people’s dreams. However, after many missions, they are tasked with doing the opposite and planting an idea into the mind of Robert Fischer (Murphy), with the goal of breaking up his father’s business empire.

Inception is a mesmerising film and so re-watchable. It takes you on an intense ride through the subconscious, driving so deep that the line between what’s real and what’s not, becomes blurred. Murphy holds his own among an elite list of actors, which includes Tom Hardy and Michael Caine. Having taken part in a big-budget action movie, his versatility is clear.

While not the main character, Cillian Murphy‘s Fischer is interesting, because of the relationship with his father. He is someone who has grown-up in the shadow of an extremely powerful business mogul, so he’s riddled with the fear of failing to live up his father’s standards. He plays the part exceptionally well and his role serves as an important anchor for the entire film.

Anthropoid (2016)

Actor Profile: Cillian Murphy
source: Bleecker Street

On December 1941, two soldiers landed in Czechoslovakia, with a plan to assassinate SS General Reinhard Heydrich, a high-ranking Nazi officer. “Operation Anthropoid” was the codename for their mission and Sean EllisAnthropoid is a depiction of those events. In spite of the film’s sci-fi sounding name, this is gritty tale of war and survival, with Cillian Murphy playing Josef Gabcik, one of the Slovakian soldiers.

While there have been countless films about WWII, Anthropoid is less flashy, but amps up the terror and suspense. It’s a compelling and moving account of a significant moment in history, one defined by the heroic acts of the soldiers involved in the operation. This movie is bolstered by the great performance of Murphy, as well as nuanced acting by Jamie Dornan, who plays the other main resistance fighter, Jan Kubis.

Murphy‘s character is fiercely determined, making many sacrifices along the way to achieve his goal. As the film is based on a true story, the bravery and courage these men showed against extreme adversity, is remarkable. Cillian Murphy prevails at playing a character with such a relentless determination, and at times both he and Dornan, carry the film on their back. This film portrays an event completely unlike anything the viewer has experienced, which is what makes for such an enticing watch.

Conclusion

An underrated actor that deserves far more recognition, Cillian Murphy clearly has a lot to offer to the world of cinema. Every role he takes on appears to be very different from the last. He said “My impulse is to try not to repeat myself and to explore different genres. I go on whatever is the best story or script available.” Murphy is always convincing and evidently, his talents aren’t limited to the same type of roles. Overall, these five films are an excellent showcase for the acting prowess of Cillian Murphy.

What’s your thoughts on Cillian Muprhy as an actor? Can you think of any other underrated actors like him? Let us know in the comment section!

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