Автор: Silvia Mapelli

"You can be famous without playing the star". A modest Cillian Murphy surprises us by revealing his feminine side.

If it weren't for those piercing, searching, penetrating deep blue eyes he'd seem like any normal guy. Instead, he's a bundle of contradictions—Irish yet shy, capable yet reserved, his adolescent physique enhanced by a pair of unbelievably sensual lips. What's more, the most sought-after golden boy of the moment is only thirty, but he's already married, and a dad—he lives in north London with his wife Yvonne McGuinness and 18-month-old Malachy. On screen Cillian Murphy (it's pronounced Killian) has caught the eye of Britain's most important cult directors, among others, playing widely diverse roles, from Christian Bale's psychopathic adversary in Batman Begins to the fighter in Ken Loach's The Wind That Shakes the Barley and the scientist in Sunshine, directed by Danny Boyle. He's just starting work on The Best Times of Our Lives (sic), alongside Keira Knightley and Lindsay Lohan (sic), while on 25th May we'll be seeing him with Liam Neeson in Neil Jordan's Breakfast on Pluto, playing a young transvestite.

It's not an easy part for a thirty-year old like yourself. Did you act from instinct or was there a lot of background work involved?

"I spent a long time watching women, and I followed Neil Jordan's advice to the letter: "Behave like a lady, and take pleasure in it". That involved buying a pile of beauty products and booking a series of manicures and massages. Body and face."

Ken Loach, Danny Boyle, Neil Jordan—a real trio of aces. What was it like working with them?

"They're directors who've never had to stoop to compromise their art, and the fact they chose me makes me very proud. Neil Jordan is a visionary. He's Irish, so he's an incredible storyteller. Danny Boyle's an endless source of inspiration. And he's exhilarating. He has an absolute belief in the need to burst the bubble that surrounds actors—seven-figure cheques, mega-luxurious hotels, assistants and all that. As my background is in the theatre, where everything is on a smaller scale, I find his approach very attractive. As for Ken Loach, he's a mythical figure in the U.K. and it was an honour to work with him. He has a very unusual way of shooting—he follows the chronological order and never reveals the whole story, so he pushes you to act as if your character were just another facet of your personality. It's a fascinating method that really appeals to me".

In Sunshine you're the only scientist who can save the planet. Be honest, were you any good at physics at school?

"Let's say that I don't have a mathematical mind, but I tried to read up on it! Brian Cox, the film's scientific adviser, was brilliant with me—he took me to the CERN in Geneva, where he works, and answered even my dumbest questions. Meeting him made me realise that scientists are the real explorers of our time, the only people on a constant search to expand the frontiers of the universe. More than being a science fantasy, Sunshine confronts the argument between science and faith—two opposites that are difficult to reconcile. Then the idea that sun could die emphasises just how fragile the Earth is. You face up to the fact that the planet's future depends on us and we should all do everything possible to prevent its destruction".

As well as being vegetarian, are you a committed environmentalist?

"I do what I can. At home we only use low energy light bulbs and I try to walk or use public transport instead of driving".

How do you manage to take the bus without being mobbed by fans and paparazzi?

"Nobody recognizes me in London, maybe because I don't play the star…"

What makes you decide to accept or reject a part?

The crucial, most exciting moment, is when I finish reading a script and I'm not sure whether I can interpret the character."

What part is at the top of your wish list?

"A cowboy in a Western. I've dreamt of doing it ever since I was little—riding across the prairie."

How important is "being Irish" to you?

"I'm deeply attached to Cork, where I was born and brought up, to my history and my roots, but not in any sentimental way. As an actor, especially, I think it's important to cut the umbilical cord, break free from any stereotyping. And I think that leaving your country and mixing with "the others" is extremely positive. That's why I came to London."

Would you like to move to Hollywood?

"There's no need, and I'd rather live in Europe."

What was the most exciting moment of your life?

"The birth of my son Malachy. Suddenly my whole viewpoint changed and what's closest to my heart now is protecting and supporting my family."

Are you the one who reads him bedtime stories?

"Why, are there dads who don't?"