Cillian Murphy Opens up About the Filmmaker He Deeply Respects

Cillian Murphy may be known today as one of the most respected actors in the world, but when he talks about real influence, he always looks back to the start. Long before the awards and the global fame, there was one director who shaped how he approached acting from the ground up.

Even though Murphy has worked with Christopher Nolan many times, including on Oppenheimer, he has said in past interviews that Nolan is not the director who changed him the most. That title belongs to British filmmaker Ken Loach. Murphy has spoken about this experience in several press interviews over the years while promoting his films.

The two worked together in 2006 on The Wind That Shakes the Barley. The movie tells the story of two brothers caught in the Irish War of Independence. Murphy played the lead role, but getting the part was not easy. He has said he had to audition four or five times before Loach finally cast him.

Murphy explained that Loach’s process was extremely rigorous. There was a lot of improvisation, a lot of reading, and a deep dive into Irish history. Nothing felt casual or rushed. Every moment had to feel real. For Murphy, that made the experience both intense and meaningful.

What made it even more personal was the location. The film was shot around Cork, where Murphy grew up. He has said the landscapes, the people, and the stories felt close to home. Families came to see the film because it showed parts of Irish history they had never seen portrayed that way on screen.

In interviews, Murphy has openly called Ken Loach a master of world cinema. He has said Loach’s dedication to truth and real human stories left a lasting mark on him. That mindset stayed with Murphy even as he moved into massive studio films like Inception and Dunkirk.

That early training helped shape the quiet, focused style he later brought to Oppenheimer. His performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer, alongside Matt Damon and Florence Pugh, earned him global praise and an Oscar win.

As of February, Murphy is busier than ever. Fans are waiting for the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. The film is set to arrive in theaters on March 6 before streaming on Netflix on March 20. Directed by Tom Harper, the movie follows Tommy Shelby during World War II as he faces the final chapter of his story.

The cast includes returning favorites like Sophie Rundle and Stephen Graham, along with new faces such as Rebecca Ferguson and Barry Keoghan.

Murphy has also surprised fans by returning to his horror roots. He made a secret appearance as Jim in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, released in January, setting up a bigger role in the next film of the trilogy.

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