anderswolleck

This has been a huge year for Cillian Murphy. He starred in the blockbuster hit film Batman Begins as The Scarecrow, been the villain in Wes Cravens Red Eye and he may end this year with an Oscar nomination for Neil Jordans Breakfast on Pluto. Murphy plays Kitten Braden a transvestite during the turbulent 60s and 70s of Ireland. Kitten meets men from all walks of life but cant be totally happy until she finally meets her real mother.

Check out the official website for Breakfast on Pluto

Daniel Robert Epstein: What made you decide to take this role?

Cillian Murphy: I had read the book before I was ever an actor and I would very happily say that this is the role of a lifetime. Neil Jordan is one of my favorite directors, not just because he's Irish or I'm Irish, but in a world of directors he's one of those guys. There was a fear as well, if you come to a character and go, Yeah I can do this then you're in trouble.

DRE: How did you come up with the voice for Kitten?

CM: Very early on, Neil said to me Go treat yourself like a lady. Go and look after yourself. My wife was very supportive of that direction. Plus I wanted the character to be feminine as opposed to effeminate. I didn't want any affectations. It's easy to be camp or queen, anybody can do that. What is difficult, is to play feminine, so that's what I wanted to approach. Then you watch and listen to women. I went out to a transvestite club in London and hung out there. I spent a lot of time on my own, just being the character.

DRE: Did any men think you were a woman?

CM: No, because it's not The Crying Game. The character is never trying to convince anybody that he is a she. Thats it's just that's the way she is. But what you do learn is that being out with transvestites in London, is how quick they are with their acerbic repartee. Thats a direct result of people shouting at you on the streets [laughs], which I had all the time. That's why they're so amazing and protective as well.

DRE: Did you stay in character when you werent shooting?

CM: Not really, retrospectively I can see how a character affects you. My wife can see always how a part affects me because she has to live with that. But it's not a conscious thing, I don't go around being in character all the time. Some actors need to do that and that's fine. It's a means to an end.

DRE: Music is a very big part of this film, did the music affect you as well?

CM: Kitten becomes obsessed with the more saccharine, less intellectually challenging music, because there was a lot of that serious music being made in the late 60s, early 70s. Kitten identifies with Sugar Baby Love and stuff like that, which is great, because she attaches so much importance to these trashy tunes. So we listened to all those tunes on the makeup bus because you have to immerse yourself in the times. In the 70s, everybody like David Bowie and Mick Jagger was fucking with sexuality. There was this androgynous thing so the clothes were so flattering to men as well as women.

DRE: What was your favorite music in the film?

CM: When Van Morrison comes on that just knocks me. Im reading the Van Morrison biography right now.

DRE: Its fascinating that Kitten doesnt want to be serious but shes contrasted against the most serious things.

CM: I think she's very astute, very smart and knows exactly what's going on but pretends that she doesn't. Thats her defense mechanism.

DRE: Youve done some very big movies this year but its obvious the artistic side is more important to you, would you have done Batman Begins if Christopher Nolan wasnt directing?

CM: No, nor would I have done Red Eye if it wasnt Wes Craven directing. But fundamentally I wouldn't have done them if the script wasn't good. I don't think if you give a mediocre script to Chris Nolan or Wes Craven or Neil Jordan and they will make it a masterpiece.

But also Batman Begins is Christian Bale's movie though I enjoyed it tremendously.

DRE: But you read for the Batman role.

CM: Yeah but come on, do I look like a fucking Batman?

DRE: Hows it working with Danny Boyle again on Sunshine which has a much bigger budget than 28 Days Later did?

CM: Were right in the middle of it so I just have the weekend off. It's great, he's totally on fire. It's like Neil working with these actors again. There's a shorthand, ease and understanding, Thats why people collaborate together again.

DRE: What is one of your big set pieces in Sunshine?

CM: I can't tell you!

DRE: Is there any role you would really like to play?

CM: I don't know if they're going to ever make a movie about Chet Baker but if they do, I'd love to play him.

DRE: Is there a director you want to work with?

CM: There's many. Id definitely love to work with Robert Altman.

by Daniel Robert Epstein

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