“Impossible for me”: After Being “Bored” of Law School Peaky Blinders Star Cillian Murphy Turned His Life Upside Down
Known for his role as Thomas ‘Tommy’ Shelby in the period crime drama Peaky Blinders, Cillian Murphy most recently won over fans with his portrayal of Oppenheimer in one of 2023’s biggest blockbusters. The enormous project by Christopher Nolan not only brought in massive sums at the box office but also received good reviews.
It’s reasonable to assume that Murphy’s star power is at an all-time high and that when Oscar season rolls around, everyone will be talking about him. Surprisingly, had he not followed his passion for acting and continued his studies, we might not have known him as the brilliant actor he is today.
Cillian Murphy was a law student
The wonderful actor Cillian Murphy, who is known to us for his famous performances in Peaky Blinders and Christopher Nolan’s most recent movie, was originally headed in a completely other direction. Murphy’s path to fame wasn’t the usual one. He was actively working toward a law degree at University College Cork in 1996, just like any other college student. But he openly acknowledged in an interview with Mr Porter that pursuing this career was more his parents’ than his own goal, saying, “Why the f**k I was studying law, I don’t know.”
In a 2016 interview with The Guardian, he acknowledged that he was fascinated with artists, like authors, playwrights, and musicians. But he further added, “Those things seemed alien and otherworldly at the time. Impossible for me to be connected to in any way.” Murphy understood that acting was his true calling and that a career in law was not what he was meant to do. His parents didn’t quite agree with this choice, though. He came from a middle-class family, and he revealed once that his parents were concerned about his decision to pursue acting over law.
Cillian Murphy gave up studying law to focus on acting
Murphy’s life, however, changed during his college years at University College Cork, when he was studying law. He started playing in bands and even got a part in the play Disco Pigs, which was later made into a movie. Murphy’s life was changed by the play’s tour across the UK and all the way to Australia. It shaped his goals and made him understand that a career in the arts was what he really wanted.
Murphy made the courageous decision to abandon his legal studies because, in the words of The Guardian, he had gotten “bored” with studying law. This decision proved to be wise because it resulted in his breakout performance in Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later. After that, Murphy’s acting career took off. He got roles in critically acclaimed films and Hollywood blockbusters. And then he became the cherished actor we all know today.
Source: The Guardian & Mr Porter
