Transcription
I think the more boring you are in real life, the less people are interested in you. So I leave. I tell people I have an extraordinarily boring life. It's actually incredibly exciting. Killian Murphy.
If looks could kill, this man would be the fashion. There are movie stars and then there are actors who do movies and just live a regular life. Killian Murphy is not the type of guy to speak too much. He is shy, introverted, but a man who is intensely passionate about his craft. He doesn't use a cell phone, but simply lives a quiet life somewhere in Ireland, honing his craft like a hermit. In interviews, he often looks like he just wants to go home, but he's actually one of the most humble and down-to-earth actors of our generation.
What's so interesting about him is that throughout his career, he has never really looked for the spotlights or leading roles. And yet he has been in six Christopher Nolan films and became the face of one of the most iconic TV characters of the last decade, Peaky Blinders. And then quietly won an Oscar for one of the most important films of the 21st century, Oppenheimer.
>> I want to thank my fellow nominees and my Oenomies. That was a that was a rhyme. >>
Killian has a very interesting philosophy on acting. No social media, just living life the old school way.
>> You just need to be living. That's your research and interacting with other human beings and just observing people. And I'm a big fan of just being in the world as a normal person. >>
I think a lot of people can learn from Killian Murphy's life. So today I want to shine some light on his career and see what sets him apart from any other actor out there. Also, if you want to get some epic merch from your favorite movies and directors, check out our web shop because we are fully stocked again. Now, let's get into the video.
Killian Murphy was born in the city of Cork in Ireland in 1976. You wouldn't believe it, but this man is almost pushing 50, even though he still looks like he's in his 30s.
>> Are you asking me or him? >> The young boy. It's Killian. His name is Killian. The young boy's name. >> I'll take that as a compliment, I think. Um, >>
Killian had the most normal upbringing you can imagine. Growing up in the wetlands of Ireland, his parents were simply average middle-class teachers.
>> What is the meaning of Ireland? >> Oh, man. to you. >> It's defined who who I am as a person um and my values. It's just home. >>
At first, acting wasn't even his plan. He wanted to become a rock star. Ever since he was young, he has had a deep passion for music. He played the guitar, wrote songs, and started a band in the '90s with his brother titled Sons of Mr. Green Jeans.
>> They were, I think, probably anxious that I did well at school, went to college, did all that stuff. I foolishly decided to pursue a law degree, but I was playing music. I was playing in a band and I just started acting. Then those two things were happening. They became much more important than going to college. I didn't really go in at all and I failed gloriously in the first year. My parents, they were thrilled. >>
Killian and his brother played in local pubs and hotels for a few years, but after they got offered a bad record deal, the band fell apart.
>> It was all for the best. I think I don't think the world is lacking our music, that's for sure. >>
But his passion for music never really went away. In many of his earlier films, you still get the chance to see him sing like an edge of love.
>> There was a young poet called Dylan >> who swore that he never would kill her. >> Breakfast on Pluto, >> the one with the wag. and in disco pigs. >> Oh yeah. >>
Just like his incredible range in acting, Killian learned fearless experimentation through music, blending multiple genres with his band.
>> It's not constrained with any formula. This is the freedom to go a bit further with music and to try different styles and different different modes and it's down to something different. >>
Fun fact, Killian also played in various music videos and used to DJ at events. I mean, Oenheimer wasn't the first time Killian dropped bombs.
>> Call the fire department. We just snooped the building. >>
Now, despite such a quote unquote normal upbringing, Killian realized that it doesn't mean you aren't special.
>> I remember when I was younger, I was feeling disappointed that I had such a normal upbringing. And I was like, "Oh, I wish I had a terrible youth or something that I could draw on." I think that's a lot of bollocks, actually. I think it's it's what you have inside. How you're able to be creative. It needn't come from a place of pain. It didn't come from place of sorrow or I don't know. It just comes from the need to perform. You're just compelled to do it, you know? I just love stories. I love interesting characters. I love people behaving in a strange way. I love when you go, why is that person behaving like that? So, transgression is much more interesting than somebody who does the right thing all the time. As an audience member, I I find that much more interesting. >>
At 23 years old, Killian was at a crossroad, not knowing whether he would pursue acting or music. He simply enjoyed the art of performing. But in 2001, a theater director offered Killian an audition for a stage play titled Disco Pigs, which turned out to become quite successful and eventually got turned into a movie, becoming Killian's first professional on-screen performance.
>> But before we stay quiet and everything, there has to be a difference. Now, >>
this is where his love for storytelling and portraying complex characters started to grow. Now, Killian's early filmography is not glamorous. It's quite unique, to say the least. For example, he played a lonely film bro in Watching the Detectives and he played roles in various small Irish films. For example, playing a transgender named Kitten in a movie titled Breakfast on Pluto.
>> So, I didn't hang around with drag queens. I did a bit of that, but I was mostly just observing women and watching women and seeing their routines and how what they went through. It's very different from Tommy Shelby. >>
But in 2002, he played in a movie called 28 Days Later. A movie that was shot on a potato where Killian wakes up in a post-apocalyptic London. And by surprise, the movie became an international hit, introducing Killian's name to America.
>> Is a film I'm very proud of. And for some reason, it resonated with people. That's where people, you know, began to attempt to pronounce my name. Been attempting ever since. >>
This became Killian's breakout role. And from that point on, his acting career started to flourish. Once people saw that film 28 days later, I guess people were like, "All right, we'll take a meeting with this kid."
He went on to play in The Wind That Shakes the Barley, a movie by Ken Loach about the Irish Civil War, where Killian already plants the seeds for his role as Tommy Shelby. This movie proved something vital for his later career. On the one hand, he will take his Irish identity with him wherever he goes.
>> Both are British. >> No, I'm Irish. >> Oh, yeah. No, British. >> No, no, no. >> Oh, sorry. Sorry to >> It's a big difference. the uh area of North Europe once. >>
And more importantly, he knows how to let his silence speak and that stillness can be louder than action.
>> I am not a dreamer. I am a realist. Teddy >>
Killian doesn't necessarily perform panic. He lets it leak out through his eyes. Like two bright headlights in the night, which has become his trademark ever since.
>> I'm not going to sell out. >>
Then comes the movie Red Eye, where he plays a very unsettling assassin on a plane. His performance is not loud or explosive, but he uses his calm and polite demeanor to manipulate. He smiles, talks calmly, and makes his lines feel menacing without shouting.
>> You know what I think? >> You know what I think? You're not such an honest person. >> Because I followed you for 8 weeks now, and I never once saw you order anything but a [ __ ] sea breeze. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. >>
That scene is probably the reason why Killian almost got cast for Fifty Shades of Grey.
>> Yeah, I don't know if that's a compliment or not. I'm not quite sure. >>
Bottom line is Killian Murphy is incredible at playing people who feel dangerous without trying to be. Now, even though Fifty Shades wasn't on the cards for Killian, something better came his way. Christopher Nolan.
>> He's here. Who? The Batman. >>
As some of you might know, Killian actually auditioned for the role of Batman in Batman Begins. There even is a very short audition tape.
>> Who was with Valonia? The docks. >> Sh murdered my parents and they deserve >> Don't pretend you wanted to do this for them. >>
He actually had the Batman voice down pretty well. But as we all know, Christian Bale got the role. But as genius as Nolan is, he did see something else in Killian. Instead of casting him as the hero, Nolan makes him the villain, a character named Scarecrow.
>> Would you like to see my mask? >>
Suddenly, Murphy becomes a recurring presence in one of the biggest trilogies ever made. This is where Killian sets himself apart because even while working with Nolan, Murphy doesn't become Hollywood. He didn't move to LA or play the fame game. After the shoot, he simply went back to Ireland to be with his wife and two kids. Killian loves to spend time alone and protect his privacy. He's not on social media and rarely uses his phone, and so does Christopher Nolan, who's known for being anti-cell phones on set.
>> There was no phones on set. We don't need them. So therefore, in the downtime and the and the waiting, people just discuss and chat and have a laugh and people aren't scrolling or disappearing. People are just in the moment. I learned that from Christopher Nolan. You learn from the best. >>
In 2013, everything changed with Peaky Blinders. Tommy Shelby wasn't just a successful role. It became bigger than Killian Murphy himself. Even today, people would first recognize the name Tommy Shelby before Killian Murphy. That's when you know you've done a fantastic job as an actor. Killian's performance turned Tommy into a timeless pop culture icon. Peaky Blinders literally built one of the most loyal fan bases of any modern series.
>> Do you still see tattoos of of Tommy every once in a while? >> Yep. I've seen some amazing tats like a really really cool ones. I'm very impressed and honored. >>
Tommy Shelby is not flashy. He is not expressive. He is a charismatic silent man who doesn't need words to express how dangerous he is. His aura is simply unmatched. What makes him such an interesting character is that both his biggest gift and his biggest burden is his intelligence.
>> I am chosen. >> Unchosen. Could the chosen one smoke? >>
Tommy Shelby is a man who is unafraid to die, which is what makes him such a dangerous man to come across. And ultimately, death to him might seem like a release.
>> My name is Tom Shelby and I'm dead already. It's very clear that this is a damaged guy whose sort of violence is a form of expression for him and it's a big distance to travel for for me as well to get to that, you know, and he's the most sort of um capable person I've ever played. And that's not me either. I have no limitations. You're inhabiting this character all the time. It affects you in a sort of a subliminal way. I think it affects you sort of by osmosis, but I'm not very aware of it. It's only people that are around you that are more aware of it. Like my wife will be aware of of when I'm playing him, I think. >>
No fighting. No fighting. No fighting. No [ __ ] fighting.
What makes Tommy Shelby iconic isn't the violence, it's the restraint. Every scene feels like he could snap, but he rarely does. Killian understands that power isn't volume, it is withholding. From the subtlety in the way he licks his cigarette to the silence before he speaks, or the way he stares at his enemies. Cuz boy, if only looks could kill. But when he does snap, it is no joke.
I'm always fascinated by what happens after a role is finished. We love hearing actors talk about how far they go or how long it stays with them. Some actors even claim that they never really leave the role behind.
>> How long do the characters stay in your head? >> Do they ever leave? >>
Gillian Murphy is not someone who stays in character for months on end or loses himself completely. He knows how to step in and step out, but that doesn't mean there is no cost.
>> When the shooting is all over, the shooting is complete on the film. Do you just turn the character off? You're yourself again. >> No, not really. It's more that there's a huge amount of displaced energy and focus. So, you go from working all of that time on set, being completely focused on something, and then all of a sudden it's done. and you're not really the character, but you're not really a civilian and you're in this sort of I don't know in between liminal space and you're kind of at a loss really for a few weeks. You just don't know what to do with all this energy and this focus and you go from like having this huge collaboration to just being at home and it's a shock you know it takes a while to uh recalibrate or decompress or whatever. If anyone does something to to a high level and with that amount of uh focus and then they stop, it's going to be weird. >>
And I said, you put up bullets in that brains by order of the pinky blinders.
Now, Gillian loves experimenting as an actor like he did with theater and music. And he loves himself a party. So, in 2017, he played in a lesser-known, more experimental movie titled The Party, which is a black and white film that centers around a dinner party that quickly goes south.
>> The challenge should be to try and play as diverse characters as possible. It would get boring for the audience and for the actor if you played characters that were similar all the time. >>
The thing that struck me the most is how are Killian Murphy's eyes still so blue even in black and white? I mean, what sorcery is this?
>> I think the best parties are the ones that aren't aren't planned, aren't they? The ones that just happen. They're like spontaneous and all of a sudden you're you're you know you're with great people and you're in a great spot and it just it's happened. Ones that tend to be overplanned and overthought out tend to be a bit rubbish. I think it's the ones that oh you end up having a party on a Tuesday night for no reason. >>
All jokes aside, a notable thing to mention is throughout Killian's career, he rarely appears as a leading man. Killian doesn't build his career around visibility. Instead of looking for films where he can be the lead, he looks for great directors to work with. Killian and Nolan have worked on six movies together already. The Batman trilogy, Inception, Dunkirk, and of course, Oppenheimer.
>> I'm a kind of a serial uh uh rec collaborator. You know, I I I think that the real deep rich work comes from working uh a number of times with people cuz you get this level of trust. >>
When Nolan gave Killian the script of Oppenheimer, he left a handwritten note taped onto the front page that read, "Dearest Killian, finally a chance to see you lead. Love, Chris." But while writing this magnum opus, Nolan didn't have Killian in mind.
>> You know, I'm sitting there looking at the copy of American Prometheus, and there's this picture of the real life op, and I with this intense blue-eyed stare looking out at me, as I have been for months, and suddenly I'm like, "Okay, I know who can do that." And I've worked with Killian for 20 years. I know he's one of the great actors, but I've never worked with him as a leading man. So, this time got to pick up the phone and say, "Okay, this is the one. This is the one where you take me center stage." And not just that, I've written the script in the first person. You're going to have to take the audience with you. We're going to see everything through your eyes. >>
It is widely known by now that Killian's performance of Oppenheimer is without a doubt one of the best performances of the decade.
>> World remember this day. >>
To portray the moral weight of a man like this. And to show a person both proud and horrified of what he has created is something you very rarely see executed so well. And now I am the condemn destroyer of worlds.
How does it feel to be the most famous man in the world?
The film is loud. The explosions are massive. But Murphy stays quiet. You see his pain simply by looking at his eyes.
>> No one moment is about one thing. And if you're as agile as someone like Killian and as vulnerable and as clever, you can play it all. But I don't know if many people can do what he does. >>
The eyes twinkle. They never lied.
Killian rightfully took it home with his role for Oppenheimer, winning a Golden Globe, a BAFTA award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and an Oscar for best actor.
>> The first Oscar win and nomination for Killian Murphy. >>
Now, sadly, Killian is not in Nolan's next movie, The Odyssey, that will be released this July. But Killian doesn't really feel like missing out.
>> When you see like u trailers for the Odyssey or photos from the set, do you have any FOMO? >> No, I have I have I have FOMO relief of missing out. >> No, I can't wait to see it. I mean, if any director in the world could tackle the Odyssey, it's going to be Christopher Nolan. I mean, he's he's one in a million. It's been a he's been a huge part of my life as an actor, and I'm I can't wait to see what he does with it. >>
It's fascinating to see that even after all the awards, acclaim, and global recognition, Killian didn't change a single bit. We have to protect this man at all cost. He shows Hollywood that you don't need to be everywhere to be unforgettable. Ireland plays a big part in that. To escape the noise, he simply goes home to his wife and two kids. Reads a few novels, walks the dog on the beach, and has a pint of Guinness at his local Irish pub. In a country pub, Killian Murphy is among peers, as he would have it. Just a man with a pint to lift and no fame to bear.
That resistance to fame is part of why Killian is so compelling. While some actors are busy trying to impress everyone, Killian does the opposite.
>> It takes 30 years to make an actor. It's not just technique and experience and all that. It's it's maturing as a as a human being and trying to grapple with life and figure it out and all of that stuff. So, by the time you've been doing it for 30 years, you've all of that banked hopefully. And eventually then I think you'll get to a point where you might be an okay actor. >>
It's safe to say Killian is an okay actor. He would rather let his work speak for itself and has been very open about not liking interviews. And that tells you everything about how he approaches acting. Killian isn't driven by fame or attention. He's driven by genuine love for the craft.
>> 28 years ago when I was uh trying to become an actor, I was a um failed musician and uh I felt extremely like an interloper. But now looking out on all of you guys here today, I know that I'm part of something truly wonderful. So, thank you so much. >>
In a world obsessed with exposure, that quiet dedication feels refreshing. Not because he's trying to be different, but because he genuinely doesn't care. And somehow that makes us care even more.
>> I don't know. Sometimes you feel like a total waste of space really when you look at people who have proper jobs and then you go what the what am I doing flouncing around putting on voices and dressing up but people need to go to the pictures and people need some sort of escape artists don't let people down like politicians let people down and bankers let people down the quality of the work might fluctuate but they keep making it they keep trying and they keep giving some sort of sucker I think you know kind of overpaid and and there's a huge amount of stupidity and hot air that that surrounds it all. And a lot of that I don't, you know, subscribe to, but I think sometimes a film can change someone's life. If you can do that through a piece of art, then that's feel like you're giving something important back. >>
Now, if you want to watch some other Irish actors at work, I highly recommend watching Paul Mescal's performance in After Sun and Barry Keoghan in Bring Them Down, which are currently streaming on Mubi. Not only in my country, the Netherlands, but in many other countries. Mubi is a curated streaming service dedicated to elevating great cinema from all around the globe. From iconic directors to emerging auteurs, there's always something new to discover. And the best thing is that they are all carefully handpicked by Mubi curators, allowing you to discover the best cinema at your fingertips streaming anytime, anywhere.
>> We work anytime, anywhere. We work Jewish holidays anytime, anywhere. >>
You can try Mubi Free for 30 days at mubi.com/dinema. That's mubi.com/ducinema for an entire month of great cinema for free.