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Q&A: Cillian Murphy
Metromix New York
9 March 2009
By S. James Snyder
After Dark Knight and Danny Boyle, this Irishman's on a roll
Cillian Murphy reinvents himself with each role. From the terrified lone survivor of a vicious pandemic in 28 Days Later... to the charismatic airline passenger who flirts with Rachel McAdams before trying to kill her in Red Eye, the maniacal Scarecrow in Batman Begins to a scientist who favors logic over emotions in the sci-fi head-trip Sunshine, he gives us characters and personalities that are hard to forget.
In Murphy's newest film, The Edge of Love, he plays William Killick, a traumatized English soldier fighting a losing battle with his inner demons. When Killick begins to suspect that his wife (Keira Knightley) has had an affair with the famous poet Dylan Thomas (Matthew Rhys), Murphy offers us an insight into the heart of a man truly lost.
Metromix spoke with Murphy about why such a fractured role appealed to him, what he thinks about the Oscar hoopla surrounding his friend Danny Boyle and whether we should expect any more comic book movies in his future.
William Killick is a pretty dark role, what made you want to play him?
What's brilliant about being an actor is that you can leave any preconceptions or judgments behind you, and learn about something entirely new. The culture of the British military is very alien to me as an Irishman. I've played characters who rebelled against that British Empire, but here I had the chance to get into the mindset of a British officer during World War II. I read a good deal about wartime Britain and the stress of living in London during the Blitz, knowing you could die at any minute.
Most of your characters are very driven people, but Killick is a man who really doesn't have it all together. Was that a different challenge for you?
I enjoyed that. I love the early part of the film—how cool and collected and confident William is. And then at the end of the film, he's so different. It was fascinating for me, to imagine what would take a good man and drive him to this point of madness.
The movie also gave you a chance to work with British director John Maybury, who's had a very interesting career.
I had seen and loved [Maybury's film] Love is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon with Daniel Craig, and I thought it was absolutely beautiful—a masterpiece really. [Maybury] comes from an art background and he has a unique, very frightening and exhilarating way of shooting. He shoots no more than two takes of anything. I think so much screen acting is indulgent—you reach the fourteenth take and you don't really know if you're making it any better. But because John is only shooting a few takes, you have to be focused.
Speaking of directors, you've worked with Danny Boyle twice before, and he's hit a whole new level thanks to Slumdog Millionaire and this year's Oscars.
I am just so thrilled for him. The proof is in the pudding, though, right? He's an amazing filmmaker and you just have to look back over the types of films he's made. He's never repeated himself. He's worked in so many different genres. Only the musical—I think that's the last genre he has to conquer. Slumdog has such tremendous performances, particularly from those two kids. I watched the whole thing with a big smile on my face; it's just brilliant.
One of your upcoming films, Peacock, co-stars Ellen Page. What was it like to work with her?
She was such a delight, and the whole shoot was really amazing. We shot it up in Iowa, and we had so many cool experiences. We had to take shelter from tornadoes—the tornado sirens literally interrupted our scenes. I don't know where [Ellen] gets the maturity for a girl her age. She brings such sophistication to the character and such a level of empathy. And what I really love about her is that she seems to be untouched by the level of fame that's fallen down on her. It's very refreshing.
There are a whole lot of fans who loved you as Scarecrow in Batman Begins, and your brief return in The Dark Knight. Any interest in another big Hollywood blockbuster?
The Dark Knight is a brilliant film. I think it's a shame that it [wasn't] up for more awards. I love those big movies when they are done well. I think comic book movies are very interesting, and they've now gone well beyond people's expectations in terms of quality. I'd love to do another big blockbuster. I don't rule anything out.
