At the Burberry Spring/Summer 2026 show during London Fashion Week, actor Tom Blyth sparked controversy by mistakenly identifying Cillian Murphy as British instead of Irish. When asked in an interview which British star he would like to feature in a Burberry campaign, Blyth mentioned Murphy, prompting immediate reactions from fans and Irish celebrities upset by the nationality confusion. The incident led Blyth to issue a public apology to both Murphy and the Irish community.
Details of the Interview and Public Reaction
During the event last month, Blyth, known for his role in Billy the Kid, was asked about his ideal British icon for a Burberry campaign. His reply,
“
British icon I’d like to see in a Burberry campaign? Ooh, I mean Cillian Murphy. Let’s say Cillian, yeah,
”
drew criticism for conflating Murphy’s Irish identity with British nationality.
This slip sparked a range of responses online. One viewer questioned,
Was it a blunder, or just ignorance?
while another noted,
The fact that he repeats the question is fairly incriminating.
Irish actress Eve Hewson simply reacted with, Oh, boy. Singer Imelda May weighed in with sarcasm, stating,
It usually goes like this: ‘I know you Irish are officially not British but …you kinda just are though aren’t you… like I know that you’re all ‘not’ but you all ‘are’ though.’
Tom Blyth’s Apology and Explanation
At the BFI London Film Festival premiere of Wasteman, Blyth addressed the issue publicly. He expressed regret, saying,
Firstly, I’m so sorry to you and your people,
and added,
I’ve nothing but respect for the Irish and I love Cillian Murphy.
He attributed his mistake to being jetlagged and admitted he had blurred out his answer without fully processing the question.
The 30-year-old actor also joked about the fallout, suggesting Murphy might hesitate to work with him again. He acknowledged,
I genuinely was knackered and just not listening properly,
and recognized the need for better attention next time:
I’ve learned my lesson. Next time, critically hearing is an important thing,
Blyth emphasized.
When informed he would be welcomed in Cillian Murphy’s hometown of Cork despite his error, Blyth responded with a wry,
We’ll see — maybe a little while longer.
Context: Frequent Confusion Over Cillian Murphy’s Nationality
This is not the first time Murphy’s nationality has been mistaken. In a previous press interview for the film Inception, the Oscar-winning actor firmly corrected an interviewer who referred to him as British, highlighting the significant distinction by stating he was Irish.
The repeated confusion highlights ongoing cultural sensitivities between British and Irish identities, making the recent incident with Blyth especially notable.
