Cillian Murphy turns 50! His transformation over the years in photos

Cillian got his start  by writing songs, playing the guitar and performing for his family at 10 years old.

While attending the Catholic school, Presentation Brothers College, he participated in a drama program overseen by the Corcadorca Theatre Company.

In his early 20s, he was part of the band The Sons of Mr. Green Genes with his brother Páidi. Cillian’s initial dream was to become a rockstar instead of an actor.

The duo were offered an Acid Jazz Records deal, however, because Páidi was still a student and the deal amount was low, they turned it down.

Cillian studied law at University College Cork but quickly learned it was not for him.

He veered deeper into the world of theater after seeing A Clockwork Orange, and soon after he appeared in his college’s Drama Society’s play, Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, as well as Little Shop of Horrors.

The aspiring actor passed the Corcadorca Theatre Company’s audition and appeared in Disco Pigs and for two years, the play toured across Europe, Canada, as well as Australia, which led Cillian to drop out of school and his band.

It was through that play that he got signed to an agent and he began appearing in not only more plays but independent and short films. He moved to Dublin and then London in 2001 for more acting opportunities.

He appeared in the Edinburgh International Festival, the Druid Theatre Company and got the lead role in 28 Days Later.

Cillian became a household name thanks to the Batman franchise in Batman Begins in 2005, as well as Red Eye and his career continued to skyrocket.

He acted in Breakfast on Pluto, The Wind That Shakes the Barley, Sunshine and more.

The actor reappeared in The Dark Knight in 2008 and was also seen in The Edge of Love and he also acted onstage in From Galway to Broadway and Misterman.

In 2012, he again acted in The Dark Knight Rises, which further cemented his role in the popular franchise.

Cillian also acted in the films In the Heart of the Sea, Free Fire and Dunkirk.

In 2023, Cillian got the role of a lifetime for the biographical film Oppenheimer and that year he won a plethora of awards including the Academy Award for Best Actor, during which he made history by being the first Irish-born performer to do so. 

He also won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture and a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

A year later, he launched his own production company called Big Things Films with his partner Alan Moloney.

Together they’ve produced films such as Small Things like These, Steve, 28 Years Later, and Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.