CILLIAN MURPHY

AFTER HIS OSCAR-WINNING TURN IN 'OPPENHEIMER' CILLIAN MURPHY BRINGS IT BACK HOME WITH POWERFUL NEW FILM SET IN IRELAND - AND DROPS 'PEAKY BLINDERS' MOVIE HINTS

- SALLY JAMES

His Hollywood career skyrocketed following his Academy Award-winning role in Oppenheimer and now Cillian Murphy is proving his acting credentials once again as he takes the lead in new film Small Things Like These.

Irish star Cillian, who previously starred in hit TV series Peaky Blinders, plays devoted father Bill Furlong in the movie, which is set in 1985 and follows Bill as he uncovers disturbing secrets at a local convent in County Wexford and learns shocking truths about his life.

The actor, 48, lives in south Dublin with his wife, Irish artist Yvonne McGuinness, 52, and their sons Malachy, 18, and Aran, 17.

Here, he tells HELLO! why filming in his home country was special, and opens up about the forthcoming Peaky Blinders film.

Cillian, this is your first film as an Oscar-winner. Has that title sunk in?

"No, not at all. It's an honour, of course, but it's not something I've thought a lot about since it happened. I went straight back to work afterwards, so I've been busy.

"It still feels weird. I look at it and I still can't believe it. Has it changed anything? I'm not sure - but if it helps get more films like this one made, I'm happy it happened."

What is it like to go from a huge blockbuster like Oppenheimer to a small independent film?