Cillian Murphy has become the name that’s on everyone’s lips these days. With his astounding performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer, in Christopher Nolan’s biopic Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy, has written his name in golden letters in the history of cinema. After being in the film industry for more than two decades, finding the fame and recognition he deserved is the fruit of his hard work and dedication to his craft for so many years.
But did you know that Murphy almost missed out on being an actor? Back in the late 90s, Cillian Murphy was the lead singer, guitarist, and lyricist of the rock band, The Sons of Mr. Green Genes. He even got the opportunity to sign a record deal with a music company. But his love for movies and acting made him reconsider his choices.
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The Movie That Changed The Trajectory of Cillian Murphy’s Career
Back when he was only a teenager, Cillian Murphy, along with brother, watched the 1973 movie Scarecrow. He was deeply affected by the movie and considers watching this Jerry Schatzberg classic as a definitive moment in his life that inspired him to become an actor. Talking to Far Our Magazine, Murphy said,
“I rented this film by mistake when I was 15 with my brother. They told us it was a scary movie. It pretty much made me want to be an actor. Al Pacino will break your heart. And Gene Hackman will break your other heart.”
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Even though music was a significant part of his life, and he enjoyed being in the band and making music, acting, and movies were much more important to him. Thus, Murphy chose to go into acting rather than sign the record deal.
Cillian Murphy’s Journey in Hollywood
Cillian Murohy first found mainstream popularity with the Danny Boyle movie 28 Days Later. The zombie movie became a cult classic, and Murphy found himself on his way to greater success. Soon, he auditioned for the Christopher Nolan movie, Batman Begins, for the titular role. And although he did not get the part, Murphy managed to make a place for himself in Nolan’s mind.
Nolan soon after offered him the role of Scarecrow in the Dark Knight trilogy, a perfect ode to the movie that once changed the trajectory of Cillian Murphy’s career. And now, 20 years later, the actor just won the Golden Globes for the Best Actor in a Drama category for yet another Christopher Nolan movie, Oppenheimer. Generating Oscar buzz, Murphy is also one of the front runners to bag the Academy Award this season for the Best Actor category.
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Oppenheimer is available for renting in Apple TV.
