Cillian Murphy’s Unforgettable Moment with Robert De Niro: “No Acting Required”

Cillian Murphy, known for his reserved nature and desire to remain out of the public eye, is one of Hollywood’s most enigmatic talents. Despite his best efforts to remain inconspicuous, his iconic roles in films like Oppenheimer, 28 Days Later, and Inception have cemented him as a leading actor known for portraying complex, tortured characters grappling with disaster and chaos. However, even someone as skilled at fading into the background as Murphy can be thrown off by the presence of a true Hollywood legend.

In a recent reflection on his career, Murphy shared his experience of working alongside Robert De Niro in the 2012 film Red Lights. Directed by Rodrigo Cortés, Red Lights follows two investigators of paranormal phenomena, played by Sigourney Weaver and Murphy, as they clash with a famed psychic, portrayed by De Niro. Despite Murphy’s wealth of experience and ability to stand out in the most challenging roles, he admits that there was one actor who intimidated him beyond measure: Robert De Niro.

Murphy recalls the intensity of their first scene together, describing it as an unforgettable experience. “The first scene that we shot with De Niro and me, I have no dialogue in that scene,” Murphy revealed. “It was my first scene with him, so my character just has to be intimidated and overwhelmed. So there was no acting involved for real in that scene.” He goes on to describe how, instead of playing his usual role, he simply had to exist in the moment and absorb the sheer presence of De Niro as the legendary actor built the scene with meticulous care and skill.

“It was amazing to have the pleasure to just watch him build that scene over the course of the takes, and have him work with Rodrigo. I’ll never forget that,” Murphy continued.

Working with such seasoned veterans as De Niro and Sigourney Weaver, Murphy says, was an invaluable learning experience. “For me, as an actor, when you’re lucky enough to work with actors that good you just have to observe and learn,” Murphy explained. “To be actually in a room watching these great screen legends do their stuff is amazing, but ultimately, when Rodrigo says action, it becomes about the scene and the characters and serving them and doing as honest a job as you can.”

Even as one of the most respected actors in Hollywood today, Murphy remains grounded and constantly inspired by those who came before him. His recent performances in Small Things Like These and Oppenheimer have earned him further acclaim, yet he acknowledges that being in the room with seasoned actors like De Niro and Weaver helped shape him into the artist he is today. Murphy’s approach to acting—one that places the scene and the characters above all else—has allowed him to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the industry’s greatest. It’s clear that, despite his quiet demeanor, Cillian Murphy continues to be enriched and motivated by the legends he works with, making him not just a remarkable actor, but a forever eager student of the craft.