#malachy

'After appearing in blockbuster films like "Batman Begins" and "Inception," Cillian Murphy became most well-known for his role as Thomas Shelby on "Peaky Blinders." The Irish actor starred in the crime drama from its premiere in 2013 to its finale in 2022. Following the show's end, Murphy took on another iconic role by playing the lead in Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer." At the film's London premiere on 13 July, Murphy posed with all of his castmates on the red carpet, however, he didn't take photos with any of his family members. His wife, Yvonne McGuinness, and their teenage sons appeared to be noticeably absent at the event. While this may come as a surprise to new fans, those who've been keeping up with Murphy for years would know the actor has always kept his personal life away from the cameras.

Murphy doesn't have any public social media accounts, so fans only get a glimpse of his life behind the scenes whenever he does interviews. He's also able to frequently dodge the paparazzi since he lives far away from Hollywood. According to People, Murphy lives a quiet life with his family in Ireland. Although he and his wife have been together for nearly 30 years, only a handful of photos exist of them together online. Since the couple have successfully been able to stay out of the headlines, you may be curious to know more about their longtime marriage. Keep reading for a timeline of Murphy and McGuinness's relationship

1 1996: Cillian Murphy and Yvonne McGuinness Meet

Years before Murphy made a name for himself as an actor, he was a law student at University College Cork who performed rock gigs in his free time. According to Marie Claire, Murphy met McGuinness after one of his band's shows in 1996. At the time, Murphy was just beginning his acting career by performing in a play called "Disco Dogs." The production became such a huge hit that it toured around the world for 18 months.

In a 2016 interview with The Guardian, Murphy recalled the tour as "the most important period" of his life not only because he met his "closest friends" through it, but because it played a big part in his relationship with McGuinness as well. "It was around the same time I met my wife. She came on tour with us. It was so exciting," he said. "20 years ago or whatever it was — we were all just kids, trying to find our way — but such a special, special time."

2 2004: Cillian Murphy and Yvonne McGuinness Get Married

Murphy and McGuinness were together for eight years before they officially tied the knot in August 2004, according to Irish Central. The couple reportedly exchanged their vows at McGuinness's father's vineyard in Provence, France.

3 2005: Cillian Murphy and Yvonne McGuinness Welcome Their First Child

According to People, Murphy and McGuinness welcomed their first child — a son named Malachy — in 2005. The "Dunkirk" actor opened up about his growing family in a 2006 interview with The Guardian, during which he revealed his wife was pregnant while he was filming "The Wind That Shakes the Barley." Since the movie was shot in the Cork countryside, he was able to remain close to McGuinness in the months leading up to his son's birth.

"Easily my best experience in terms of the process of acting. Plus, it was during the summer months," he said. "I was living at home with my folks; my wife was pregnant with our son; and we were running around the hills of west Cork shooting up Black and Tans. Fantastic!"

4 2007: Cillian Murphy and Yvonne McGuinness Welcome Their Second Child

Murphy and McGuinness's second son, Aran, was born in 2007. Although not much is known about the couple's kids, Aran is following in his father's footsteps by becoming an actor as well. In 2019, Aran starred in the play "Hamnet" as Shakespeare's son. According to Broadway World, Aran first gained acting experience by performing in school plays before going on to further his craft at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Murphy talked about his son's performance in a 2021 interview with The Guardian. "He was so chilled about it, you know? He would come off stage and ask what the score was in the Liverpool game. And, again, you're slightly jealous of that!" Murphy said. "There's the danger that overanalysing everything can erode the simplicity."

5 2015: Cillian Murphy and Yvonne McGuinness Move Their Family to Dublin

After living in London for decades, Murphy and McGuinness moved their family to Dublin in 2015. While talking to The Guardian in 2016, Murphy explained there were a few reasons that inspired the family to relocate, including craving a change of scenery. "I loved living in London in my 20s and 30s, but after a while you kind of go, 'Right, is this it? Is this it for the rest of my days? Or is there some other possibility?'" Murphy said, adding that the family longed to live near the sea.

Another reason for the move was that Murphy and McGuinness wanted their kids to be closer to their grandparents. "We wanted them to be Irish, I suppose," he said. "It's amazing how quickly their accents have adapted. Even within a year of moving back, they are fading into this rakish west Brit kind of thing. Which I think, hopefully, will get them lots of girls when they're 15."

6 2016: Cillian Murphy and Yvonne McGuinness Are Seen Together in New York

Despite having been married for nearly 20 years, Murphy and McGuinness are rarely seen together out in public. In August 2016, they were spotted taking a stroll around New York City while the actor was in the United States to promote his film "Anthropoid." Although the two haven't been seen together in public since, they remain happily married.

In a 2019 interview with GQ, Murphy said it's "hard" being away from his wife and kids due to work obligations. "I have an amazing wife and I couldn't do this without her and her understanding. But it is a struggle. I think it is for any dad whose work takes him away, which it generally does, and which consumes him, which my work does," he explained.