Cillian Murphy marks a significant personal and professional milestone this year as he turns 50 on May 25. Known for his captivating performances, Murphy’s career reflections reveal a path shaped by curiosity and steady growth. Amid a busy schedule featuring new projects like the forthcoming film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, the Cork-born actor stands at a pivotal point in his life and work.
An Accomplished Career Across Stage and Screen
Murphy’s journey began on stage in 1996 with Disco Pigs, and since then, his trajectory has taken him from acclaimed theatre roles to prestigious film performances. His craft earned him widespread recognition, culminating in a Best Actor Oscar in 2024 for his role in Oppenheimer. This achievement represents his ascent into the elite circles of acting, a testament to the quality and dedication embedded in his career.
Personal Life and Steady Grounding
Despite his international success, Murphy remains grounded, maintaining close connections to his roots in Ballintemple, Cork. Since 2004, he has been married to artist Yvonne McGuinness, a relationship forged during their student days in the 1990s. Together, they raise two sons, Malachy, aged 20, and Aran, 18, balancing family life with demanding careers.
In approaching his 50th birthday, Murphy acknowledges the significance without dwelling excessively on it.
“You’d be lying if you said it like you didn’t think about it, because it’s the first time that you’ve got less years left than you have lived. But I’m not hung up about it,”
he says.
Revisiting Iconic Roles: From 28 Days Later to Peaky Blinders
Recently, Murphy has revisited characters that marked early and significant points in his career. He returned to the world of 28 Days Later, reprising his role from the 2002 film that initially propelled him into global awareness at 26. More prominently, he has donned the iconic cap once again as Thomas Shelby in the continuing saga of Peaky Blinders, a role that has defined much of his recent career.
Having portrayed Thomas Shelby for nearly a quarter of his life, Murphy recognizes the deep imprint the character has left on him. After the sixth series aired in 2022, Murphy and the production team had hoped to continue the story with a seventh season. COVID-19 disrupted these plans, redirecting efforts instead toward a feature film adaptation.
“I was always available if they felt like there was more story to tell,”
Murphy remarks about his involvement as a producer on the film.
“And it was exciting to see if we could move from telling a story in six hours to two hours. And could we keep the same elements that the fans love and the people associate with Peaky, but make it into a feature film. That was the challenge.”
The film, set in 1940—six years after the series finale—finds Tommy Shelby dealing with new personal demons amid the backdrop of the Second World War. Writing memoirs and engaging in self-medication, Tommy attempts to keep a low profile, but, true to his nature, trouble remains close.
Murphy notes a shift in the character’s demeanor:
“As happens to us all, that vitality was wearing off.”
He also explains the complexity of returning to such a demanding role after years away.
“Every time, it always takes a number of months. It’s not just putting the cap on and like, lighting a cigarette,”
Murphy shares.
“When you’re in it, it feels very, very familiar. But it’s not instant.”
Historical Roots and Cultural Resonance of Peaky Blinders
Creator Steven Knight drew on his parents’ memories of Birmingham’s Small Heath area after World War I to craft the authentic setting of Peaky Blinders. The devastating losses and scars left on the community deeply influenced the characters and narrative. Murphy reflects on how these historical realities shaped Tommy and his brothers.
“I think Tommy and his brothers and all the men of that age are products of that. They thought it was impossible that it could ever happen again. And then it does,”
he comments.
The show’s attention to historical detail spans the depiction of the Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA), which features prominently both in the original series and the film, especially during the Luftwaffe bombing raids. Tommy’s military service from both world wars frames the story as a narrative bookended by conflict.
Irish Influence: Cast and Soundtrack Highlights
Irish culture remains a strong presence in the series and film, with contributions from musicians and performers alike. Fontaines DC dominates the soundtrack of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, lending a contemporary Irish voice to the period drama. Barry Keoghan, a prominent new cast member who plays Tommy Shelby’s son Duke, brings additional Irish talent to the screen.
Murphy previously worked with Keoghan on Dunkirk (2017) and praises him warmly:
“He’s gone from strength to strength,”
Murphy notes.
“He has that thing where you just put a camera on him, and he’s instantly interesting. And he has a sort of dangerous quality to him on camera, but he also has this vulnerability. They are sort-of contradictory traits, but he has them all.”
Murphy is also following the budding career of his youngest son, Aran, who will appear later this year in Taika Waititi’s sci-fi film Klara and the Sun, as well as the legal drama series War on Sky and HBO.
“He’s just a massive fan of film and television and theatre,”
Murphy says.
“It’s not really a surprise that he would find his way into it. I’m just happy to support him and let him off, find his own way in it.”
Upcoming Projects and Production Roles
Next month, Murphy will begin work on a prison-set drama alongside Daniel Craig, under the direction of Damien Chazelle, known for Whiplash and La La Land. Despite his many upcoming acting commitments, Murphy expresses a desire to slow down his pace where possible.
Alongside acting, Murphy has grown passionate about producing. He began producing during the third season of Peaky Blinders and continues to find the role creatively fulfilling, contributing on location and during post-production.
“I love it because it’s actually very creative for me. And I think it helps for the other producers, to have somebody that’s on the ground,”
he explains.
“I’ve also learned so much, and I love being involved in the post-production, being in the edit, working on the score.”
When asked about motivations driving his choices, Murphy emphasizes curiosity over ambition:
“Ambition was never really the driving force. Curiosity was more the thing,”
he clarifies.
Although Murphy will not attend this year’s Academy Awards on March 15, he praises the presence of Irish talent, including Jessie Buckley and John Kelly, whose animated short Retirement Plan earned a nomination. Recognizing the strength of the industry in Ireland, Murphy says:
“I think the film industry in Ireland is brilliant. It’s going from strength to strength,”
he affirms. Humorous about his viewing habits, Murphy adds:
“I go to bed at half past nine, so it’s unlikely,”
he laughs.
The Role of Music in Peaky Blinders and Murphy’s Own Past
Before venturing fully into acting, Murphy was deeply involved in music as a teenager, singing and playing guitar in the Cork band Sons Of Mr Green Genes. His enthusiasm for music has endured, reflected not only in his ongoing support of local festivals in Cork such as Sounds From A Safe Harbour but also in his involvement with BBC 6 Music as a radio host.
The intersection of music and storytelling is a distinctive element of Peaky Blinders, where the soundtrack plays a vital role. Murphy highlights the contribution of Antony Genn and Martin Slattery, who composed the score for The Immortal Man. Murphy’s producer role extended to assembling an impressive tracklist, featuring artists like Nick Cave, Lankum, Amy Taylor of Amyl & the Sniffers, and Fontaines DC’s Grian Chatten.
During the filming period for The Immortal Man, Murphy attended a London launch event for Fontaines DC’s album Romance, joining composer Genn and director Tom Harper. The band’s title track struck a chord with the production team, with Murphy recalling:
“They play that song Romance, and there’s this lyric in it where he says, ‘In with the pigs in the pen’. It was like he had written it for this film,”
he enthuses.
“So then we chatted to him about composing more music.”
Chatten’s involvement extends to collaborations with fellow Irish group Lankum on the track “Hunting the Wren” as well as vocals on a cover of Massive Attack’s “Angel,” one of two covers by the Bristol band featured on the soundtrack.
“I’m really proud of the music on this,”
Murphy states.
Release and Availability
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man became available on Netflix from March 20. The official soundtrack for the film was released earlier the same month, coinciding with its debut in select cinemas. This release expands Murphy’s connection with fans and the broader audience, continuing to build on the series’ lasting impact.
