« Oppenheimer » star Cillian Murphy pulled back the curtain to talk about his approach to acting.
2023 was the year the world learned to pronounce Cillian. The ancient Irish name seemed to be on everyone’s lips as the film « Oppenheimer » became a blockbuster with 13 —including best actor for Cillian Murphy. Murphy has worked nonstop for nearly 30 years, but it was the epic drama of the atomic bomb that ignited a star. In this moment, with a under his porkpie hat and the Oscars three weeks away, Murphy is more famous than well-known. So, we set out to learn more. We were warned the 47-year-old Irishman is reserved and wouldn’t talk about himself. But we discovered finding Cillian Murphy depends on where you look.
Ireland’s Dingle Peninsula was named for a goddess before such things were written. And for 6,000 years stories have passed by ear.
So, if verse inhabits every Irish soul—then, in a country pub, Cillian Murphy is among peers—as he would have it—just a man with a pint to lift and no fame to bear.
Scott Pelley: What is the meaning of Ireland –
Cillian Murphy: Oh man!
Scott Pelley: —to you?
Cillian Murphy: I don’t think I can answer that question satisfactorily. It’s defined who I am as a person and my values. It’s just home.
Home includes his wife of 20 years, two teenage sons and scout, a lab named for the character in « To Kill a Mockingbird. » That figures, Murphy has always let stories lead his path.
Cillian Murphy: You find so much empathy in novels, you know, because there you are putting yourself into somebody else’s point of view, and I’ve always been a big reader. When a movie can connect with someone, and they feel seen or feel heard, or a novel can change somebody’s life, or a piece of music– an album– can change someone’s life. And I’ve had all that happen to me. And that’s the power of good art, I think.
Scott Pelley: There’s a straight line from the music in the pub to « Oppenheimer? »
Cillian Murphy: I think they’re from the same source, I mean, I really do. I don’t see– I see it’s all on a continuum. You know what I mean? It’s just a form of expression.
Expression, in the eyes of , the physicist who created the atom bomb but never controlled it.
Cillian Murphy: I remember reading at the beginning about him, that he was more riddle than answer. And I thought, « Oh, OK. Wow. That’s interesting. »
Scott Pelley: I’m curious about your notes…
The riddle was in this script by writer-director Christopher Nolan—printed in red so it couldn’t be photocopied.
Cillian Murphy: I did genuinely think it’s one of the greatest screenplays I’d ever read.
Scott Pelley: And you told him, « I’ll do it. »
Cillian Murphy: I mean, I said I would do it before I read it. I always say that —
Scott Pelley: That’s quite a risk. Why would you do that?
Cillian Murphy: It’s always paid off for me, you know, in every film that I worked with him on.
There have been six Chris Nolan films for Murphy: « Dunkirk, » « Inception » and three « Batman » titles.
Scott Pelley: You told me that getting a film made, and getting it seen, is a miracle.
Cillian Murphy: It is. And then if it’s any way good, that’s a miracle. And then if it connects with audiences, that’s a miracle. So, it’s a miracle, upon miracle, upon miracle to have a film like « Oppenheimer.
