While it took Hollywood some time to appreciate Cillian Murphy‘s ability to take on leading roles, he has long been celebrated as a quietly intense actor in the UK and Ireland. His career since his debut in 1996 showcases a bold range of characters. But none of them hit the same big time as his portrayal of the legendary physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer on the big screen today. Yet, to attain this level of recognition, where his name is now a fixture among industry experts, Murphy had to push through those early acting jitters on set.

Recently, Cillian Murphy opened up about the hurdles he faced while being on set and the struggle to stay focused on his part.

Cillian Murphy shared some insights into his early years in the business

Cillian Murphy recently had a chat on The Mind Full Podcast, scheduled to hit the airwaves this coming Monday. Dermot Whelan, the host, gave a sneak peek into the episode, where Murphy got real about the challenges of zoning in amidst the hustle and bustle on set. He gave a picture of the movie sets to describe the behind-the-scenes action that brings films to life- big trucks rolling in, electricians bustling about, crew members setting up, and then, just like that, everything hushes up when the director gives the cue to start.

This sudden shift to the spotlight was something Murphy found incredibly pressurizing and “terrifying“. Nonetheless, all the effort he has put in has definitely paid off, as he is now the favorite to scoop up the Best Actor award at the 2024 Oscars for his performance in Oppenheimer. But Murphy did not always have his sights set on acting.

In fact, it took him a fair bit of time to discover his true calling after dabbling in a short-lived music career phase.

What led Cillian Murphy to pursue acting?

Raised in a home filled with music, books, and intellectual discourse by his civil servant father and French teacher mother, Cillian Murphy had a fulfilling upbringing. Initially, he spent some time playing rugby before deciding it was not for him. Then, he gave law studies a shot at University College Cork, but he eventually dropped out of it as well. After that, he briefly pursued a music career before finding his true calling in acting, thanks to a stage production of A Clockwork Orange.

Murphy’s career took off with the 2002 film 28 Days Later, a modern horror masterpiece that marked a turning point in his career. Even Christopher Nolan recalled about the film’s poster featuring Murphy’s bald head and intense gaze in a conversation with Entertainment Weekly. His profile continued to rise in 2005 with acclaimed performances in hit films like The Dark Knight. And now, for the past two decades, he has been consistently impressing audiences with his talent for bringing dark, troubled characters to life.

What do you think about Cillian Murphy’s career trajectory? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!