Cillian Murphy’s Three-Word Description of Ireland Will Leave You Stunned

Cillian Murphy, the acclaimed actor best known for his role as Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders and his Oscar-winning performance in Oppenheimer, recently opened up in a rare and revealing interview on 60 Minutes. The usually private actor surprised viewers by discussing not only his career but also his personal life and deep connection to his Irish roots.

Ahead of the interview, 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley was warned that Murphy, known for his reserved nature, would not be an easy subject to crack. However, Pelley was taken aback when Murphy shared candid insights into his life, his inspirations, and the values that have shaped him.

When asked what Ireland means to him, Murphy responded with three powerful words: “It’s defined who I am as a person, um, and my values. It’s just home.” His emotional connection to Ireland is clear, as he reflected on how the country has shaped both his identity and his worldview.

Murphy’s private life, which has remained relatively out of the spotlight, includes his wife and teenage children, with whom he has spent decades balancing family life with his thriving career. He also spoke fondly of his family dog, Scout, who was named after the iconic character from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Murphy explained his love for reading, especially novels that foster empathy, noting that “you find so much empathy in novels, you know, because there you are putting yourself into somebody else’s point of view.”

Reflecting on his early years, Murphy recalled his high school days in Cork when he and his brother formed a band. The experience led Murphy to pursue acting classes, eventually leading to his first major play, Disco Pigs, which not only had success in theaters but was also adapted into a film.

Murphy also shared a unique anecdote about his early days in the theater. Near his practice space, there was a fire escape door leading to an alleyway often frequented by drunk individuals. Rather than avoiding the situation, Murphy turned it into an acting exercise. “It used to energize us,” he said, explaining how the unpredictability of the scene helped him learn to use the energy of a room to fuel his performance. “I remember learning about, like, taking whatever you have, sort of responding to whatever the energy is in the room, and using it.”

As he reflected on his career, Murphy noted that his iconic role as Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders allowed him to grow both as an actor and as a person. He emphasized that acting isn’t just about technique and experience—it’s about maturing as a human being and learning to grapple with life. “It’s not just technique and experience and all that, it’s maturing as a, as a human being, and, uh, trying to grapple with life and figure it out, and all of that stuff. So by the time you’ve been doing it for 30 years, you’ve all of that banked, hopefully,” Murphy said with characteristic humility.

Cillian Murphy’s rare interview offers a glimpse into the heart and mind of one of Hollywood’s most enigmatic stars. Through his reflections on his Irish heritage, family life, and personal growth, Murphy continues to show that behind his complex on-screen characters lies a deeply thoughtful and grounded individual.