A Simple Move Helped Oppenheimer's Cillian Murphy Land His Most Iconic Role
The actor himself isn't sure it actually happened, but that's the official lore.
Summary
- Despite Oppenheimer, Peaky Blinders' Tommy Shelby is Cillian Murphy's most iconic role.
- The show's creator originally wasn't sure about casting the actor.
- Murphy is pleased with PB's conclusion and would love to reprise the role should the opportunity arise.
Since its release in the summer of 2023, Oppenheimer has been considered one of the major contenders in the upcoming 96th Academy Awards race. What's more, the film's star, Cillian Murphy, has been the talk of the town as he is expected to win Best Actor. But while Christopher Nolan's film may win him the coveted award, Robert Oppenheimer isn't his most iconic role.
Before portraying the father of the atomic bomb in the hugely successful biopic, Cillian Murphy rose to fame thanks to his lead role in the BBC's period crime drama Peaky Blinders.
The show, which premiered in 2013, ran for six seasons over the course of ten years and told the story of a fictional gang operating in Birmingham after the First World War. The show's protagonist, Tommy Shelby, proved to be Murphy's most iconic role. But apparently the actor wasn't the showrunner's first choice for the role, and he had to do one simple thing to get the part.
A Wise Afterword
'I wasn't the obvious choice physically. And I hadn't up to that point played, I think, anyone who had that sort of physical presence. I don't know if I convinced him [Stephen Knight, the creator of PB] in the meeting. I don't know if he made this up because it's a good story, but apparently afterwards I sent him a text saying: "Remember, Steve, I am an actor." And I do believe that. I do think it is our duty as actors to transform to whatever the part demands. And he was generous enough to give me a go,' Cillian Murphy recently revealed in a talk with BBC Radio 4.
As simple as that, this is how Cillian Murphy got his most iconic role.
A Satisfying Conclusion
Interestingly, however, Tommy Shelby began to feel like a burden to the actor over time. Perhaps for this reason, Cillian Murphy was happy to step out of the character and part ways with Peaky Blinders.
'It was a little bit of a relief at that point. I was ready to take a little break. I felt like we'd done such excellent work. And I really loved the ambiguity of the ending. It was a good time to have a little respite from it. I think we all needed a break from each other,' the actor said.
However, Cillian would be delighted to reprise the role if Peaky Blinders were to be revived or adapted for the big screen.
'I've always said that if there is more story to tell, and if Stephen Knight delivers a script that I know he can deliver because he's such a phenomenal writer, I will be there. I mean, if we want to watch, like, fifty-year-old Tommy Shelby, let's do it,' Murphy added.
As for us, we'd definitely be willing to see Cillian Murphy revisit his iconic character on either the small or big screen.
Source: The BBC.