Cillian Murphy is an easily recognisable actor, best known for his on-screen intensity. The Irishman is the star of the highly anticipated Christopher Nolan film, Oppenheimer. He plays the title role of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist who led the Manhattan Project which developed the atomic bomb. A highly respected actor with a long history of playing complex and challenging roles, Murphy is known for his ability to bring a sense of realism and intensity to his performances.

In the lead role as Oppenheimer, Murphy will be tasked with portraying a brilliant yet flawed man, who helped to develop one of the most destructive weapons in human history. Sharing a physical resemblance to J. Robert Oppenheimer and being a regular Nolan collaborator, his complexity and nuance of the performance is sure to be one of the film's highlights. Murphy is well-suited to the role of Oppenheimer, reflecting a complex and troubled man who struggled with the moral implications of his work.

While Murphy has been an ever-present force in Hollywood over the last few decades, he's been a dark horse and hopefully this considerable platform will give him the opportunity he so rightfully deserves to showcase a full range performance. His instantly recognisable face makes it easy to remember where you've seen the actor before, having made in-roads in films with a psychological thriller element such as: Red Eye, Sunshine, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises.

Cillian Murphy is a versatile actor who's starred in a wide range of films. His work is sure to continue to entertain audiences for years to come. In anticipation of Oppenheimer it's worth taking a walk down memory lane to chronicle some of his best and most memorable performances.

28 Days Later (2002)

This post-apocalyptic thriller follows a group of survivors as they try to make their way through a London that has been overrun by infected people. Murphy plays Jim, a bicycle courier who wakes up from a coma to find the world in chaos. Murphy's performance has been praised for its realism, its intensity, and its emotional depth. He brings a real sense of humanity to the role of Jim, even as he's forced to do some pretty horrific things. His performance is one of the things that makes 28 Days Later such a powerful and memorable film.

The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006)

This historical drama tells the story of two brothers who fight on opposite sides of the Irish War of Independence. Murphy plays Damien O'Donovan, a young man who joins the IRA after witnessing atrocities committed by the British. One of the things that makes Murphy's performance so effective is the way he shows the gradual transformation of Damien O'Donovan from a reluctant participant in the war to a committed revolutionary. Murphy captures the way that Damien's idealism is slowly eroded by the violence and bloodshed that he witnesses. As the film progresses, Damien becomes increasingly hardened and ruthless, and Murphy conveys this change with heartbreaking realism.

Inception (2010)

This science fiction thriller follows a team of thieves who steal information by entering people's dreams. Murphy plays Robert Fischer, the son of a wealthy businessman who is the target of the team's latest heist. One of the things that makes Murphy's performance so effective is the way he conveys Fischer's inner turmoil. Fischer is a young man who is struggling to come to terms with his father's legacy. He is torn between his desire to honor his father's wishes and his own need to break free from his father's control. Murphy Perfectly Captures this inner conflict, and he makes Fischer a truly relatable character.

A Quiet Place Part II (2020)

The sequel to A Quiet Place, this film follows the Abbott family as they meet Emmett, played by Murphy, and continue their journey in the post-apocalyptic world. Murphy's performance conveys Emmett's quiet intensity, vulnerability and inner turmoil. Emmett is a man who has lost everything. He has lost his family, his friends, and his home. He is struggling to find a reason to keep going, and he is haunted by the guilt of surviving when so many others have not. Murphy perfectly captures this inner conflict, and he makes Emmett a truly relatable character.

Peaky Blinders (2013-2022)

While not a film, Peaky Blinders is one of Murphy's longest recurring roles. The British crime drama series follows the Shelby family, a gang of gangsters in Birmingham, England, in the aftermath of World War I. Murphy plays Thomas Michael Shelby, the leader of the Shelby family. The series has been praised for its stylish visuals, its complex characters, and Murphy's iconic performance. Thomas is a man who is constantly struggling with his own demons. He's a ruthless gangster who's willing to do whatever it takes to protect his family and his business. However, he is also a loving father who is deeply troubled by the violence he has committed. Murphy perfectly captures this inner conflict, and he makes Thomas Shelby a truly complex and relatable character.