
Cillian Murphy
Biography
Cillian Murphy (born May 25, 1976) is an Irish actor.
He made his professional debut in Enda Walsh's 1996 play Disco Pigs, a role he later reprised in the 2001 screen adaptation. His early notable film credits include the horror film 28 Days Later (2002), the dark comedy Intermission (2003), the thriller Red Eye (2005), the Irish war drama The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006), and the science fiction thriller Sunshine (2007). He played a transgender Irish woman in the comedy-drama Breakfast on Pluto (2005), which earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination.
Murphy began collaborating with filmmaker Christopher Nolan in 2005, playing Dr. Jonathan Crane / Scarecrow in The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005–2012) as well as appearing in Inception (2010) and Dunkirk (2017) and portraying the lead role of J. Robert Oppenheimer in the biographical epic Oppenheimer (2023). By the year 2023, Murphy has already worked with Nolan for around 20 years and six films. He also gained prominence for his role as Tommy Shelby in the BBC period drama series Peaky Blinders (2013–2022) and for starring in the horror sequel A Quiet Place Part II (2020).
In 2011, Murphy won the Irish Times Theatre Award for Best Actor and Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance for the one-man play Misterman. In 2020, The Irish Times named him one of the greatest Irish film actors.
Known For

TV
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self
2014

TV
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self - Guest
2014

TV
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self - Guest
2015

TV
Peaky Blinders
Thomas Shelby
2013

TV
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Self
2005

TV
The Graham Norton Show
Self
2007

TV
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
2003

TV
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee
1944

Film
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Jim
2026

TV
60 Minutes
Self
1968

Film
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
Thomas 'Tommy' Shelby
2026

Film
Inception
Robert Fischer, Jr.
2010

Film
The Dark Knight
Scarecrow
2008

TV
The Oscars
Self
1953

TV
The Oscars
Self - Presenter
1953

Film
Oppenheimer
J. Robert Oppenheimer
2023

TV
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Self
2014

Film
The Dark Knight Rises
Dr. Jonathan Crane / Scarecrow
2012

Film
Batman Begins
Dr. Jonathan Crane
2005

Film
28 Days Later
Jim
2002
Filmography
2027FilmA Quiet Place Part IIIas Emmett2026FilmPeaky Blinders: The Immortal Manas Thomas 'Tommy' Shelby2026Film28 Years Later: The Bone Templeas Jim2025FilmSteveas Steve2024FilmSmall Things Like Theseas Bill Furlong2024FilmKensuke's Kingdomas Dad (voice)2023FilmOppenheimeras J. Robert Oppenheimer2023FilmInside Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimeras Self - J. Robert Oppenheimer2021FilmAll of This Unreal Timeas Man2021FilmA Quiet Place Part IIas Emmett2021TVFight for First: Excel Esportsas Narrator2020TVA World of Calmas Narrator2019FilmI'm the Manas Narrator2019FilmAnnaas Lenny Miller2019FilmThe Irish Revolutionas Self - Narrator (voice)2019TVThe Irish Revolutionas Self - Narrator (voice)2018FilmThe Overcoatas Akaky (voice)2018FilmThe Silent Manas The Doll2018FilmThe Delinquent Seasonas Jim2017FilmThe Partyas Tom2017FilmDunkirkas Shivering Soldier2017FilmFree Fireas Chris2016FilmAnthropoidas Josef Gabčík2016FilmVersus: The Life and Films of Ken Loachas Self - Actor2015FilmIn the Heart of the Seaas Matthew Joy2015TVThe Late Show with Stephen Colbertas Self - Guest2015FilmAtlantic: The Wildest Ocean on Earthas Himself - Narrator2014TVVariety Studio: Actors on Actorsas Self2014FilmLennon or McCartneyas Self2014FilmFrom the Mountainas Man2014FilmTranscendenceas Agent Donald Buchanan2014TVLate Night with Seth Meyersas Self2014FilmAloftas Ivan2013TVPeaky Blindersas Thomas Shelby2012FilmBrokenas Mike Kiernan2012FilmThe Dark Knight Risesas Dr. Jonathan Crane / Scarecrow2012FilmRed Lightsas Tom Buckley2011FilmIn Timeas Raymond Leon2011FilmRetreatas Martin2011FilmMistermanas Thomas Magill2010FilmTRON: Legacyas Edward Dillinger (uncredited)2010FilmInceptionas Robert Fischer, Jr.2010FilmPeacockas John Skillpa / Emma Skillpa2009FilmPerrier's Bountyas Michael McCrea2009FilmThe Wateras The Son2008FilmThe Dark Knightas Scarecrow2008FilmThe Edge of Loveas William Killick2008FilmWaveridersas Narrator2007FilmWatching the Detectivesas Neil2007FilmSunshineas Capa2007TVThe Graham Norton Showas Self2006FilmThe Silent Cityas Unnamed Character2006FilmThe Wind That Shakes the Barleyas Damien2006FilmCarry On Kenas Self2005FilmBreakfast on Plutoas Patrick 'Kitten' Braden2005FilmRed Eyeas Jackson Rippner2005FilmBatman Beginsas Dr. Jonathan Crane2005TVThe Late Late Show with Craig Fergusonas Self2003FilmCold Mountainas Bardolph2003FilmGirl with a Pearl Earringas Pieter2003FilmIntermissionas John2003TVJimmy Kimmel Live!as Self2002Film28 Days Lateras Jim2002FilmHow Harry Became a Treeas Gus2001TVThe Way We Live Nowas Paul Montague2001FilmDisco Pigsas Pig / Darren2001FilmOn the Edgeas Jonathan Breech2001FilmWatchmenas Phil2000FilmA Man of Few Wordsas Best Man2000FilmFilleann an Feallas Ger1999FilmSunburnas Davin McDerby1999FilmEvictionas Brendan McBride1999FilmThe Trenchas Rag Rookwood1999FilmAt Death's Dooras Young Reaper1999FilmSweety Barrettas Pat the Barman1997FilmQuandoas Pat1968TV60 Minutesas Self1953TVThe Oscarsas Self1944TVGolden Globe Awardsas Self - Nominee—FilmBlood Runs Coalas Chip Yablonski—FilmPeaky Blinders: A Peek Behind the Curtainas Thomas Shelby / Tommy / Himself—FilmUntitled Damien Chazelle/Prison Movie—FilmHarriet and the matchesas Cat (voice)—FilmThe Meetings of the wateras Man—Film28 Years Later Part 3as Jim