Emily Blunt once labelled Cillian Murphy as the ‘worst celebrity in the world’.
And let’s be honest, anyone who knows a thing or two about the Irish legend can probably agree he’d be totally fine with that title.
Fans often joke that Murphy ‘hates being famous’ and it seems that’s something his Oppenheimer co-star agrees with.
The Peaky Blinders star has been in the spotlight for a fair bit of time, having made his professional debut on stage in 1996’s Disco Pigs before reprising his same role in 2001 for the screen adaptation.
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The 49-year-old then of course went on to appear in the likes of 28 Days Later, Intermission, The Dark Knight Trilogy and obviously, as Tommy Shelby.
But after all those years, Blunt says he’s still not so passionate about the celebrity side.
During an interview for 60 Minutes, she said Murphy is her ‘favourite actor’ she’s ever worked with.
And the interviewer asked Blunt if the Irishman knew how to ‘handle a compliment’.
"No, I don't think so. I don't know if any of the great actors know or would say that about themselves," the A Quiet Place actor responded.
"I feel he's always in search, he's looking off the horizon, looking at what else [he] could do, how far [he] could push it."
She went on to add: “What will satiate this creative fire in him. I think it would be so painful for him to acknowledge how good he is, I don't see that happening."
Blunt agreed that all his passion lies in acting and not fame as she said: “He's the worst celebrity in the world.
“He's the best actor in the world and the worst celebrity in the world."
The actor is full of praise for Murphy as she continued: “He's unparalleled in what he can do and how he pulls you in. The whole room crackles with a certain life force when you work with him."
Murphy previously spoke about his complicated relationship with fame as he says it ‘fetishises everything’.
He told Rolling Stone UK that while it ‘kind of destroys nuance and human behaviour’ he is well aware that it’s ‘part and parcel’ of the job.
In his opinion, the ‘best people’ in the industry are ‘not doing it for any other reason but love of the craft’.
"They have a compulsion to make work, not to be famous or get attention," Murphy explained.
Topics: Celebrity, Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer, Peaky Blinders, Film
Jess Battison