Cillian Murphy has been entertaining fans for several years now, but has managed to remain under the radar and generally tends to avoid the spotlight of fame. Even with huge roles in the Batman movie franchise, Cillian remained relatively low-key, but the roaring success of his leading role as Tommy Shelby in the hit Netflix series Peaky Blinders changed that entirely.
His incredibly stunning looks and his bad boy persona in this gang-crime series has his global fanbase mesmerized by his every move and wanting to know so much more about the mysterious man that is the essence of the dangerously stunning Tom Shelby.
10 He Was In A Rock Band
Known as one of Hollywood's sexiest bad-boys, Cillian Murphy lays claim to a highly successful acting career, but he also happens to be a double threat. He once played guitar in a band called Sons of Mr. Green Genes, alongside his brother. Cillian's vocals were reported to be on-point, but his parents weren't convinced that musical careers for both their children would be a wise move.
Cillian tells the Evening Herald, "I'm very glad in retrospect that we didn't sign because you kind of sign away your life to a label and the whole of your music."
9 He's An Incredibly Private Man
In spite of being widely recognized and incredibly successful in his career, Cillian Murphy truly wants nothing to do with the celebrity lifestyle. He shuns interviews, in general, and absolutely refuses to divulge anything about his personal life, whatsoever. He tries his best to only attend interview sessions that are absolutely required to promote an upcoming role or movie and is never one to create any hype around himself whatsoever. He travels without security and never likes to create a buzz about his presence.
8 Tom Shelby Is Truly A Part Of His Life
Cillian Murphy takes his roles seriously and often finds it difficult to separate from his character after an extended time on set. The role of Tommy Shelby has been one that is particularly difficult to shake.
In the series, Tommy is a man that never shuts down or sleeps and has massive responsibilities on his shoulders. His lifestyle is a dangerous one, and this seems to resonate with Cillian on a personal level. He admits to being a bit "dark" at home with his wife after spending days in the Shelby shoes, proving just how vividly his acting skills are portrayed on the screen.
7 He Didn't Make The Cut As Batman
Diply reports that Murphy had his eyes locked in on the role of Batman, but unfortunately, he wasn't cast in this leading role. After auditioning for this legendary superhero role, Murphy seemed to leave a lasting impression in a different way. He was turned down as Batman but managed to score the role of the Scarecrow in the Batman movie series, instead.
6 He Doesn't Use Social Media
Peaky Blinders is one of the most watched Netflix series of all time. It shatters records and has fans completely fixated on the characters and the fast-moving, ever-dangerous plot. The success of this role and his incredible rise to fame has millions of fans searching his name on social media, all of whom come back empty handed and disappointed.
Cillian Murphy doesn't use social media. this correlates with his desire to remain away from the celebrity lifestyle and wanting to keep his life as private as possible. Fans that want their Cillian Murphy fix are forced to search the official Peaky Blinders website to find images of the star.
5 His Kids Are Completely Unfamiliar With His Work
Cillian Murphy is the proud father of two children and is happily married to his wife, Yvonne. However, his sons are largely unfamiliar with his work. They know their father is an actor but are far too young to engage in watching his very adult-roles unfold on the screen. The characters he depicts tend to be dark and dangerous and when it comes to Tom Shelby - downright violent. His kids have a few years to go before they're able to see what their dad is up to when he's away from home.
4 He's A Down-To-Earth Family Man
Cillian Murphy differs from most celebrity dads in the sense that he craves and thrives on his quiet, laid-back family time. He finds simple pleasure in doing the most basic tasks and chores around the house and has previously commented about how he feels life is "about taking out the trash and being a part of his family's day-to-day life."
He's proud to be heavily immersed in family life and doesn't employ assistants or management teams for any purpose.
3 He Tried For A Career In Law... And Failed
At one point in his life, Cillian Murphy was dedicated to a career in law. He went to law school in pursuit of higher education and a successful career path, but it wasn't long before he discovered that he wasn't cut out for the world of law at all. He was completely uninterested in lectures and studies and didn't apply himself.
He decided this wasn't for him and promptly dropped out to pursue music and acting.
2 He's Passionate About Music
Cillian Murphy remains very passionate about music, even in his adult life. He spends a good amount of money on sound systems and surrounds himself with music that feeds his soul. He has stated that he doesn't regret leaving the band, and he presumes he'd never be taken seriously as a band member, given his acting career, but the music is still in his blood.
1 He Quit Vegetarianism For His Peaky Blinders Role
For just over 15 years, Cillian Murphy was a dedicated vegetarian. He was dedicated to this lifestyle choice until he took on his role in the Peaky Blinders. Being Tom Shelby meant that he had to bulk up for the role, so he went back to consuming meat as part of his diet.
The role he plays in the Peaky Blinders has been truly formative in a number of ways and is now very much a part of his identity.