Cillian Murphy Shows Rare Public Side With Wife at BAFTAs

Cillian Murphy made a rare public appearance with his wife, Yvonne McGuinness, at the BAFTA Film Awards in London. The couple, together for 30 years, turned heads on the red carpet in coordinated black outfits.

Murphy, 49, wore a sharp double-breasted blazer, while McGuinness, a well-known visual artist, looked elegant in a one-shouldered satin jumpsuit. The night was special for the Irish acting community. Murphy presented the Best Actress award to Jessie Buckley, who won for her performance in The Thirsty Earth. She became the first Irish woman to ever take home that award.

Even though Murphy often finds himself in the spotlight, he has always credited his wife with keeping him grounded. He has said that fame and red-carpet events can be overwhelming. During a previous interview on Desert Island Discs, he explained that the public side of fame is “quite challenging” and that his family gives him a safe place to feel normal.

YVONNE MCGUINNESS YOU BEAUTIFUL QUEEN and Cillian Murphy. pic.twitter.com/fQWACix6KU

— michi³⁰ᴵ⁰⁷ (@gofckapineapple) February 22, 2026

Murphy and McGuinness met in the mid-1990s during the touring production of Disco Pigs, the play that launched his career. He called that time “the most important period of my life,” saying the people he met then shaped his artistic vision and life goals.

After dating for ten years, the couple married in 2004 at a vineyard in France and have two sons, Malachy and Aran, whom they have raised mostly away from the media spotlight. Murphy has occasionally broken his no-PDA rule, most notably during the 2024 awards season.

After winning his historic Oscar for Oppenheimer, he shared a celebratory kiss with McGuinness during his acceptance speech. He also gave a heartfelt tribute to her and their children, saying he wouldn’t have reached his career heights without their support.

This year, Murphy remains busy with new projects. He starred in the Netflix drama Small Things Like These, which premiered to rave reviews and earned him another BAFTA nomination.

He is also filming the Peaky Blinders feature film, reprising his iconic role as Tommy Shelby, alongside Rebecca Ferguson and Barry Keoghan. The movie is currently being shot in Birmingham and is expected to be released later this year. Outside of acting, Murphy is expanding his production company, Big Things Films, focusing on character-driven stories.

McGuinness continues to thrive in the art world, recently debuting a new immersive installation at the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Their youngest son, Aran, is also following in his father’s footsteps, having been cast in Taika Waititi’s upcoming film Klara and the Sun.

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