While Cillian Murphy is basking in the glory of his stunning performance in Oppenheimer, the actor’s penchant for taking up diverse and challenging roles is well documented. Apart from being Christopher Nolan’s go-to actor for many projects, Murphy earned cult status with the role of the Irish gangster Thomas Shelby in BBC’s hit series Peaky Blinders.
Through 6 seasons of the show, the Golden Globe winner’s flawed character became a fan favorite across the globe with many memorable episodes that showcased Murphy’s versatile skills as an artist. The Inception actor also revealed many moments in the show that made the most impact on him including one scene that will always be etched in his memory for posterity.
This Peaky Blinders Dialogue Floored Cillian Murphy
Cillian Murphy is the kind of actor who lights up the screen with his unique ability to transform a simple scene into a magical moment. The Irish actor was part of many such moments through his cult character of Thomas Shelby in his blockbuster BBC gangster drama Peaky Blinders. While the Oppenheimer star stunned audiences with his performance, there were certain dialogues in the show that left the actor awestruck.
Over many interviews during and after the release of Peaky Blinders, Murphy spoke about various aspects of the show that included his experiences playing the famous protagonist. The celebrity revealed a particular line from the 3rd episode of season 3 that completely floored him with its profound truth and simplicity.
The scene involving the death of his character’s girlfriend, leads him to a mysterious clairvoyant who attributes the presence of a cursed piece of jewellery as the defining reason behind the tragedy. Thomas Shelby’s response to the statement became Cillian Murphy’s favorite line of the show, ‘All religion is a foolish answer to a foolish question.’ Recalling his awe, the actor told BBC Radio 1,
“That was just an amazing piece of writing”
Peaky Blinders fans will be well aware that religion plays a pivotal role in laying out the complexities of right and wrong in the show, and Cillian Murphy’s protagonist Thomas Shelby is a character who is constantly tested in these aspects throughout the series.
Cillian Murphy Could Not Interact With Peaky Blinders Co-Stars Off-Set
BBC’s intense gang drama Peaky Blinders became one of the biggest and most popular television shows all across the world. Cillian Murphy who played the dangerous criminal Tommy Shelby, impressed viewers worldwide for his performance and his collaboration with a solid ensemble cast.
While the actors seemed to have seamless chemistry on-screen, the Oppenheimer star revealed that the situation was not the same once the cameras were turned off. Speaking of the reasons behind not being able to hang out with his colleagues or crew members, Murphy told Variety,
“Because it is such an intense shoot due to the nature of the material, and because we are working about 16 hours a day for about five months, we don’t tend to hang out socially when we aren’t shooting. I think that’s only because we see so much of each other when we work, but it has been a very collaborative journey and I’ve learned a huge amount.”
The Irish actor also spoke about the restrictions that the ensemble faced while shooting during lockdown which included working with masks and other precautions that made it even more difficult to form a bond with the cast and crew on set.
