Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy has spoken about faith, fame, fans, failure and family in a wide-ranging interview with Rolling Stone UK magazine.
The Cork native, 46, best known for his portrayal of gangster boss Thomas Shelby in smash-hit BBC drama Peaky Blinders, said that he doesn't really "partake" in fame and that he thinks he leaves fans "underwhelmed" when they meet him.
"I don’t really partake. I don’t go out. I’m just at home mostly, or with my friends, unless I have a film to promote. I don’t like being photographed by people. I find that offensive."
He continued, "I think it’s the Tommy Shelby thing. People expect this mysterious, swaggering… it’s just a character. I do feel people are a little bit underwhelmed. That’s fine, it means I’m doing my job."
"Peaky fans are amazing. But sometimes I feel a little sad that I can’t provide, like, that charisma and swagger. He couldn’t be further from me."
Speaking about the strange nature of fame and being recognised, he said, "It can ruin experiences, because it fetishises everything: you can be walking down the street and someone takes a picture like this is a f**king event.
"It kind of destroys nuance and human behaviour, but that’s part and parcel of it."
The interview took place during filming of Murphy’s current project - the adaptation of Small Things Like These, the critically-acclaimed novella by Irish author Claire Keegan. The film is currently in production on location in New Ross, Co Wexford.
As well as starring in the project, it is also Murphy’s first time producing a feature film. The movie’s cast includes Emily Watson and Ciarán Hinds, and it's set in a small town where a father confronts the truth of a local Magdalene Laundry.
Murphy told Rolling Stone that it’s "an important story for Ireland".
"Everyone in Ireland that you talk to, of a certain generation, more or less has a story. It’s just in Irish people. What happened with the church, I think we’re still kind of processing it. And art can be a balm for that, it can help with that."
"My family wasn’t particularly religious, but I was taught by a religious order. The Irish school system was almost exclusively controlled by the Catholic Church, and still is to a large degree. And I went to church and got, you know, communion, confirmation and all of that. I have no problem with people having faith."
"But I don’t like it being imposed. When it’s imposed, it causes harm. That’s where I have an issue.
He added, "I don’t want to go around bashing the good things about institutionalised religion, because there are some. But when it gets twisted and f**ked-up, like it did in our country, and imposed on a nation, that’s an issue."
The actor, who is considered to be very private, also lifted the lid on his move back to Ireland eight years ago along with his wife, artist Yvonne McGuinness, and his teenage sons, now aged 15 and 17.
He said, "We had 14 years in London. But I feel like as you hit your late 30s and have kids, living in a major metropolis is less exciting. And then also, you know, we’re both Irish. We wanted the kids to be Irish. I think it’s the best decision we made", adding that the promise of getting a Labrador as a family pet sold his sons on the move.
Of his children, he says, "They’re really good boys. We have a laugh. We don’t do 'Dad’s Movie Night’, but they like some of my films. They say all my films are really intense."
Murphy also spoke about his love of music. The band he played guitar in as a teenager, The Sons of Mr Green Genes, was offered a record deal with a major label.
"It [music] was my first love… I will never release any music of my own, never, ever. I want to do one thing well. And I guess because I’m still a little sore about being a failed musician."
He went on to reveal that he has "turned down quite a few biopics of musicians" over the years.
Murphy is nominated for BAFTA TV award this Sunday in the Leading Actor category, for his role as Shelby in Peaky Blinders. It is his first BAFTA TV nomination since he was nominated for Rising Star at the 2007 BAFTA Film Awards, losing out to French actress and James Bond star, Eva Green.
The full interview with Rolling Stone UK can be read here.
