Murphy on SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE

In his recent work, Cillian Murphy has increasingly gravitated towards roles that demand nuanced, introspective performances. SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE, a historical drama set in 1985 New Ross, Ireland, exemplifies Murphy’s approach to character portrayal – a method he describes as “acting in repose.”
In the film, Murphy plays Bill Furlong, a coal merchant confronting the systemic abuse within a local convent. His performance is a masterclass in restrained emotion, with Murphy conveying profound internal conflict through minimal dialogue and powerful, understated expressions.
Murphy’s insights into the character reveal a deep understanding of Irish masculinity during a repressive era. “These men retreated into themselves,” he explains, highlighting the cultural context of emotional suppression. The film’s exploration of the Magdalene laundries – institutions that housed and exploited women until 1996 – resonates deeply with Murphy, who was a child during this period of Irish social transformation.
Shot entirely on location in New Ross, the film embraces authenticity. Murphy and his longtime collaborator Eileen Walsh portray a married couple, with the production using real houses and existing convent exteriors. This approach mirrors Murphy’s acting philosophy of creating space for audience interpretation.
While this film represents a significant recent work, Murphy’s recent filmography has been marked by similarly nuanced performances. His portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s OPPENHEIMER further demonstrated his ability to embody complex historical figures with remarkable depth and restraint.
Murphy’s career trajectory shows a consistent commitment to roles that require profound internal exploration, whether in period dramas, biographical films, or his long-standing collaboration with directors like Nolan in the PEAKY BLINDERS series.
The actor’s approach to performance continues to challenge traditional narrative conventions, prioritizing emotional subtlety over verbal exposition and inviting audiences to engage more deeply with character psychology.
Thirty years ago, on April 21st, 1995, FATHER TED first aired, introducing viewers to the misadventures of three Irish priests exiled to the fictional Craggy Island off Ireland’s west coast. By the time the final episode aired on May 1st, 1998, the series had transcended its modest beginnings to become one of the most beloved… In the quiet corners of retirement, Marian’s world has shrunk to suffocating dimensions—annual holidays on repeat, a silent home, and a husband whose criticisms have become her daily soundtrack. VERDIGRIS, Patricia Kelly’s remarkable feature directorial debut, follows this retired woman’s journey as she secretly takes a job as a census enumerator in inner-city Dublin, far… Barry Keoghan continues his meteoric rise in Hollywood with a starring role in HURRY UP TOMORROW, an intriguing psychological thriller that pairs him with rising star Jenna Ortega and marks the feature film acting debut of music superstar Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd. Following Keoghan’s critically acclaimed performances in SALTBURN and THE BANSHEES… What began as a fairy tale for Irish widower Jason Corbett quickly descended into an unfathomable nightmare. When the Limerick businessman and father of two found love again with his American au pair, Molly Martens, in 2008, it seemed like a fresh start. The couple, along with Jason’s children Jack and Sarah, relocated from Ireland… Continue Reading A DEADLY AMERICAN MARRIAGE on Netflix May 9 In the shadow of Ireland’s medieval Kilkenny Castle, Cartoon Saloon has quietly built an animation empire that continues to expand its artistic boundaries. The acclaimed studio that brought us THE BREADWINNER, SONG OF THE SEA, and WOLFWALKERS has just reached another milestone with its latest project Julián earning a coveted spot at the prestigious Cannes… Eve Hewson’s impressive career trajectory takes another significant leap forward as she joins the ensemble cast of Netflix’s highly anticipated film JAY KELLY. The Irish actress, who has been steadily building an impressive résumé with standout performances in BAD SISTERS and BEHIND HER EYES, now finds herself among Hollywood royalty in Noah Baumbach’s upcoming heartbreaking…Celebrating 30 years of FATHER TED
VERDIGRIS now in theatres
HURRY UP TOMORROW in theatres May 16
A DEADLY AMERICAN MARRIAGE on Netflix May 9
Cartoon Saloon’s JULIAN set for Cannes
Eve Hewson in JAY KELLY
SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE in theatres Nov 1

SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE arrives in cinemas on November 1, marking another significant milestone in Murphy’s increasingly impressive filmography.
In his latest venture, Murphy, 48, portrays Bill Furlong in a period drama set in 1985 Ireland. The film, which he personally championed, originated during his time on the OPPENHEIMER set, where he pitched the concept to Matt Damon, describing it as “a little bit Manchester By The Sea meets Doubt.” Damon’s production company, Artist’s Equity, later took on the project.
Based on Claire Keegan’s acclaimed novel, Murphy speaks passionately about the adaptation: “Claire’s story was so perfect and magnificent in its brevity and what it captured, and it moved people and I felt for us, it was our challenge to kind of make a film that did justice to the novel. I never would like to be prescriptive about what people take from film. I just hope that they enjoy it and that maybe, maybe it gets them talking.”
Celebrating 30 years of FATHER TED
Thirty years ago, on April 21st, 1995, FATHER TED first aired, introducing viewers to the misadventures of three Irish priests exiled to the fictional Craggy Island off Ireland’s west coast. By the time the final episode aired on May 1st, 1998, the series had transcended its modest beginnings to become one of the most beloved…
VERDIGRIS now in theatres
In the quiet corners of retirement, Marian’s world has shrunk to suffocating dimensions—annual holidays on repeat, a silent home, and a husband whose criticisms have become her daily soundtrack. VERDIGRIS, Patricia Kelly’s remarkable feature directorial debut, follows this retired woman’s journey as she secretly takes a job as a census enumerator in inner-city Dublin, far…
HURRY UP TOMORROW in theatres May 16
Barry Keoghan continues his meteoric rise in Hollywood with a starring role in HURRY UP TOMORROW, an intriguing psychological thriller that pairs him with rising star Jenna Ortega and marks the feature film acting debut of music superstar Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd. Following Keoghan’s critically acclaimed performances in SALTBURN and THE BANSHEES…
A DEADLY AMERICAN MARRIAGE on Netflix May 9
What began as a fairy tale for Irish widower Jason Corbett quickly descended into an unfathomable nightmare. When the Limerick businessman and father of two found love again with his American au pair, Molly Martens, in 2008, it seemed like a fresh start. The couple, along with Jason’s children Jack and Sarah, relocated from Ireland…
Continue Reading A DEADLY AMERICAN MARRIAGE on Netflix May 9
Cartoon Saloon’s JULIAN set for Cannes
In the shadow of Ireland’s medieval Kilkenny Castle, Cartoon Saloon has quietly built an animation empire that continues to expand its artistic boundaries. The acclaimed studio that brought us THE BREADWINNER, SONG OF THE SEA, and WOLFWALKERS has just reached another milestone with its latest project Julián earning a coveted spot at the prestigious Cannes…
Eve Hewson in JAY KELLY
Eve Hewson’s impressive career trajectory takes another significant leap forward as she joins the ensemble cast of Netflix’s highly anticipated film JAY KELLY. The Irish actress, who has been steadily building an impressive résumé with standout performances in BAD SISTERS and BEHIND HER EYES, now finds herself among Hollywood royalty in Noah Baumbach’s upcoming heartbreaking…
SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE trailer

The trailer for SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE, starring Cillian Murphy in the lead, is out! Directed by Tim Mielants, the historical drama is based on the eponymous novel by Claire Keegan. The trailer shows Murphy as a coal worker, who, while delivering coal across the town, finds dark secrets about a local convent and how it treats its women. While he wants to help the women there, he is also conflicted about revealing the secret as the Church and the convent are important institutions in the small Irish town.
Celebrating 30 years of FATHER TED
Thirty years ago, on April 21st, 1995, FATHER TED first aired, introducing viewers to the misadventures of three Irish priests exiled to the fictional Craggy Island off Ireland’s west coast. By the time the final episode aired on May 1st, 1998, the series had transcended its modest beginnings to become one of the most beloved…
VERDIGRIS now in theatres
In the quiet corners of retirement, Marian’s world has shrunk to suffocating dimensions—annual holidays on repeat, a silent home, and a husband whose criticisms have become her daily soundtrack. VERDIGRIS, Patricia Kelly’s remarkable feature directorial debut, follows this retired woman’s journey as she secretly takes a job as a census enumerator in inner-city Dublin, far…
HURRY UP TOMORROW in theatres May 16
Barry Keoghan continues his meteoric rise in Hollywood with a starring role in HURRY UP TOMORROW, an intriguing psychological thriller that pairs him with rising star Jenna Ortega and marks the feature film acting debut of music superstar Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd. Following Keoghan’s critically acclaimed performances in SALTBURN and THE BANSHEES…
A DEADLY AMERICAN MARRIAGE on Netflix May 9
What began as a fairy tale for Irish widower Jason Corbett quickly descended into an unfathomable nightmare. When the Limerick businessman and father of two found love again with his American au pair, Molly Martens, in 2008, it seemed like a fresh start. The couple, along with Jason’s children Jack and Sarah, relocated from Ireland…
Continue Reading A DEADLY AMERICAN MARRIAGE on Netflix May 9
Cartoon Saloon’s JULIAN set for Cannes
In the shadow of Ireland’s medieval Kilkenny Castle, Cartoon Saloon has quietly built an animation empire that continues to expand its artistic boundaries. The acclaimed studio that brought us THE BREADWINNER, SONG OF THE SEA, and WOLFWALKERS has just reached another milestone with its latest project Julián earning a coveted spot at the prestigious Cannes…
Eve Hewson in JAY KELLY
Eve Hewson’s impressive career trajectory takes another significant leap forward as she joins the ensemble cast of Netflix’s highly anticipated film JAY KELLY. The Irish actress, who has been steadily building an impressive résumé with standout performances in BAD SISTERS and BEHIND HER EYES, now finds herself among Hollywood royalty in Noah Baumbach’s upcoming heartbreaking…
SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE at Berlinale
During the Berlin Film Festival press conference for his newest movie SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE, Cillian Murphy reflected on the “collective trauma” of Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries. Based on the book of the same name by Claire Keegan, the film focuses on the horrific asylums run by Roman Catholic institutions from the 1820s until 1996, ostensibly to reform ‘fallen young women. The story is told through the eyes of Murphy’s devoted father and coal merchant Bill Furlong, who during Christmas 1985 discovers some “startling secrets” kept by his local convent.
SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE Premiere
The SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE World Premiere will take place at the 74th Berlinale, unspooling in the German capital from 15-25 February. The title, taking part in the festival’s main competition, stars Cillian Murphy, Ciaran Hinds, Michelle Fairley and Emily Watson in the leading roles. The Irish-Belgian co-production was penned by Enda Walsh and is based on the book of the same name by Claire Keegan (the writer of FOSTER, adapted into the Academy Award-nominated feature THE QUIET GIRL .
Murphy in SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE
PEAKY BLINDERS hero Cillian Murphy has joined the cast of SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE which is being shot in New Ross, County Wexford. The film will be directed by Tim Mielants of PEAKY BLINDERS fame and producers include Catherine McGee (NORMAL PEOPLE) and Cillian Murphy, who will also star in the main role of Bill Furlong. The film is based on Claire Keegan’s Booker Short-Listed novel, with screenplay adaptation by playwright Enda Walsh.