Inside the Life of One the Quietest Stars, Cillian Murphy, Who Actually Hates Being Famous

Cillian Murphy is a talented Irish actor who has captivated audiences with his unforgettable portrayal of the enigmatic Thomas Shelby in the hit TV series Peaky Blinders. However, despite his immense success and having the biggest names in acting, Cillian Murphy is probably the quietest actor behind the scenes.  

 Cillian Murphy is married to a talented visual artist Yvonne McGuinness who has achieved notable success, including the creation of several short films. The couple has been married since 2004 and now raise two sons, Malachy (16) and Aran (14).

Cillian’s family is known for maintaining high privacy regarding their personal lives. They rarely appear together in public, and neither has an active presence on social media platforms. 

Acknowledging the importance of his artist wife, Cillian has openly credited her for much of his accomplishments. While he is away filming Peaky Blinders, which typically spans around six months, Yvonne diligently manages their family life in Ireland.

Despite his immense fame and success in the acting world, Cillian Murphy’s heart lies in his home in Ireland rather than the glamour of Hollywood or London.

In one of his interviews, Murphy expressed that he didn’t feel the need to reside in Los Angeles, explaining, “I’d be tremendously far away from my family — I’d never see them.”  

“There are doctors and nurses and people that work. I struggle with that. I mean, actors are overpaid, you know? It’s nice when you get paid, when you’re young, and you’ve gone from having no money, but the Catholic guilt kicks in immediately, and I’m like, ‘It’s all going to go wrong. You don’t deserve this’. And I don’t.”  Murphy is renowned for his disinterest in engaging with fame, believing that he often disappoints his fans when they meet him in person.  “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. 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 that charisma and swagger. He couldn’t be further from me.” 

Reflecting on the challenges of being recognized in public, he further added, “It can ruin experiences because it fetishizes everything: you can be walking down the street, and someone takes a picture like this is an event.” 

 considered one of the world’s most handsome men, Murphy also disclosed that he selects television and movie roles that will not interfere with his personal life and family commitments.