Oscar-winning actor Cillian Murphy stars in the new Netflix film Steve, which premiered in October 2025. The film follows a headteacher at a reform school for boys and marks a departure for Murphy, who abandons his usual American accent to embrace his Irish roots. This role not only highlights Murphy’s range but also connects deeply with his own upbringing in a family of teachers.
Murphy’s Personal Connection to the Role of Steve
Raised by a family heavily involved in education, Murphy empathizes deeply with the challenges teachers face daily. In an interview, he reflected on how his parents and extended family, all educators, lived demanding lives balancing work and home.
“I don’t think I fully appreciated it, when I was young, how hard it was—both of them working and both of them coming home to us,”
Murphy said, describing his parents’ exhausting routines of teaching and then caring for their own children after classes. This intimate perspective helped him connect to his character, Steve, who leads a reform school for boys with behavioral issues.
However, Murphy explained that his decision to take on the project went beyond family ties. His collaboration with Max Porter, the film’s screenwriter, was a driving force.
“I have a relationship with [writer] Max Porter, and we wanted to continue working together,”
he said. Porter adapted his 2023 novel Shy for the screen, shifting the story’s focus from a troubled student to the teacher struggling to keep control through a difficult day. Murphy’s involvement extended to producing the film alongside Alan Moloney through their company Big Things Films.
A Unique Filming Approach Deepens Emotional Impact
One of the film’s most powerful moments comes when Steve’s composed facade collapses during a heated confrontation in a basement scene. Murphy revealed the emotional depth of that sequence was intensified by the production’s decision to shoot the film chronologically. The continuous take allowed the actors, especially Murphy, to develop the emotional buildup authentically.
“We shot the film chronologically and that had a big effect on everybody, because we were all living it as we went—accumulating that emotional information as we went along,”
Murphy shared.
The scene was shot as a long, uninterrupted take where the camera follows Steve descending into the basement, capturing the rawness of his breakdown. Murphy attributed the success of that vulnerable moment to the trust built with his collaborators.
“I don’t think I would have been able to do [the scene] that way, if I wasn’t working with people that I really trusted. Alan Moloney, my producer partner, we’ve worked for 25 years together. Tim [Mielants, the director], this is our third project; Max [Porter], third project. Emily [Watson], I’ve made two films with. It felt secure enough of a place to be that vulnerable.”
Although the dialogue was scripted, Murphy noted the unpredictable way the emotions manifested during filming.
“It was beautiful writing, because he does say that [in the script], but I just didn’t know how it was going to come out.”
Subtle References and Character Dynamics
A notable scene features Tracey Ullman’s character, Amanda, reassuring Steve that it’s not his fault. Some viewers likened this moment to the famous line from Good Will Hunting. Murphy acknowledged the similarity but emphasized it was unintentional.
“No, it’s not intentional, but I love that film. This is a genre of movie. We have to accept that,”
he said. Amanda’s role is pivotal: while Steve cannot help the troubled student Shy in his moment of need, Amanda can see and address that pain.
Embracing an Irish Identity on Screen
Murphy is well known for adopting American accents in many of his roles, but in Steve, he uses his natural Irish voice. The character’s nationality was adjusted from English in the novel to Irish for the film, which Murphy described as
“just one less thing to worry about”
during filming. He explained the experience as both a relief and a stripping away of protective layers, saying it felt like “peeling away the layers.”
This choice resulted in a closer connection to the role. Because Murphy did not need to adopt a different voice or alter his physicality drastically, he focused on portraying Steve’s exhaustion and weariness more authentically. He reflected on how, early in his career, relying heavily on accents and constructed personas was important, but now the aim was to remove those layers.
“I didn’t really change physically, didn’t change my voice. I tried to make him as exhausted and haggard as possible,”
Murphy explained.
The Emotional Toll of Portraying Steve’s Breakdown
Filming the story sequentially meant Murphy had to endure the character’s emotional unraveling in real time, which he admitted was challenging.
“It’s not great. [Laughs.] But it’s also the best way to do it, sequentially,”
he said. Immersing himself fully in the role allowed Murphy to live through the character’s deteriorating state authentically, stating,
“The best way to do it is to go into it, and immerse yourself in it. That’s the way I do it, anyway. I have to live it.”
Reflections on Career and Oscar Success
Murphy recently won an Oscar for his role in Oppenheimer, and when asked about how the accolade has affected his career, he remained modest. He said that after nearly three decades in acting, his choices are based on refined personal taste rather than external validation. However, he acknowledged that winning the award could help with securing financial backing for future projects.
“If it helps get a film over the line financially, in terms of funding, then I’ll take it,”
he stated.
With Steve available now on Netflix, audiences get to see Cillian Murphy deliver a raw, layered performance that marks a shift from his typical roles. The film explores the emotional exhaustion teachers face and offers a nuanced portrayal of struggles within the educational system, brought to life by Murphy’s intimate understanding and authentic voice.
