Cillian Murphy's Evolution: From 'Peaky Blinders' to 'Oppenheimer', A Remarkable Journey Unveiled

Cillian Murphy spent almost thirty years perfecting his skills before his portrayal of Oppenheimer propelled him into Hollywood stardom.

During a promotional interview with The Guardian in July 2023, Murphy humorously admitted, "I'm stubborn and lacking in confidence, which can be a disastrous mix." He further confessed, "I am committed to sharing only work that I believe is exceptional."

Murphy's acting in Oppenheimer was described as excellent by viewers. Directed by Christopher Nolan, the project tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer (played by Murphy), a real-life American scientist who played a key role in developing the atomic bomb.

However, this is not the first time that Murphy has impressed audiences with his talent. He earned the approval of TV lovers in 2013 when he first appeared on Peaky Blinders, but his acting career actually began in the mid-90s.

Scroll down to Murphy’s biggest milestones:

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Cillian Murphy Through the Years: From ‘Peaky Blinders’ to ‘Oppenheimer’

Cillian Murphy spent almost thirty years perfecting his skills before his portrayal of Oppenheimer catapulted him to the ranks of Hollywood's most prominent figures.

Murphy's acting in Oppenheimer has been praised by viewers, who described it as excellent. The film, directed by Christopher Nolan, tells the story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, played by Murphy, and his involvement in the development of the atomic bomb.

However, this is not the first time Murphy has impressed audiences with his talent. He gained the approval of TV lovers in 2013 when he made his debut on the show Peaky Blinders. However, his acting career goes back to the mid-90s.

Scroll down to Murphy’s biggest milestones:

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Early 90s

Murphy, prior to his career as an actor, had dreams of becoming a musician. He was part of a band called The Sons of Mr Green Genes, but unfortunately, their record deal fell through, leading Murphy to explore other opportunities.

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1996

Murphy entered the entertainment sector by securing a role in Disco Pigs, a play written by Enda Walsh. Shortly after, in the subsequent year, he marked his entry into the world of cinema with the release of the short film Quando. (In a later production of Disco Pigs in 2001, Murphy reprised his role as Pig.)

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2002

The Ireland native’s breakthrough performance came with 28 Days Later, in which he played Jim.

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2004

Murphy dated Yvonne McGuinness for nearly a decade — they met in 1996 — before they tied the knot in 2004.

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2005

He first appeared as Dr. Jonathan Crane/The Scarecrow in the Batman franchise in 2005's Batman Begins. Murphy went on to reprise the character in both 2008's The Dark Knight and 2012's The Dark Knight Rises.

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2005

The actor welcomed his first son, Malachi, with wife McGuinness.

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2007

Murphy and McGuinness expanded their brood with the arrival of their second son, Aran.

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2013 to 2022

Thomas Shelby, the character in Netflix's Peaky Blinders, was brought to life by a talented U.K. actor. Over the course of six seasons, he captivated audiences with his portrayal. Not only did he excel in front of the camera, but he also took on the role of executive producer for the show from 2016 to 2022. In recognition of his outstanding performance, the actor received a nomination for Leading Actor at the BAFTA Awards in 2023.

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2023

Murphy received acclaim for his performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer. When asked about his co-star, Oppenheimer, Matt Damon praised Cillian, stating, "Cillian is absolutely incredible. He exceeded all expectations." In March, Damon also mentioned that the film has a runtime of nearly three hours but the experience feels surprisingly quick, adding, "It's truly fantastic."

Emily Blunt expressed her admiration for Murphy's dedication to his role by following a strict diet. In an interview with Extra in July 2023, she shared, "He took on such a monumental challenge. His diet was so restrictive that he could only consume an almond each day."

Murphy disclosed to The New York Times that he had to shed a significant amount of weight and collaborate with the costume and tailoring departments, as the character he portrayed was exceptionally thin, bordering on emaciated. The character's slender figure was sustained by a diet consisting mainly of martinis and cigarettes.