Cillian Murphy’s post-Academy Award career continues with Steve, a new drama in which Murphy plays a headteacher at a last-chance reform school. Set during one day in the 1990s, the movie is a reimagining of the 2023 novella Shy by Max Porter. Steve premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Steve is Cillian Murphy’s second project after his 2024 Academy Award win for his starring role in Oppenheimer. ScreenRant’s Steve review praised the actor’s performance in his latest film as well, while also highlighting the movie’s “phenomenal ensemble.” together, the Steve cast tells a story of mental health, addiction, and past demons’ affect on the present.
ScreenRant’s Liam Crowley spoke with Cillian Murphy about the actor’s work on Steve. Murphy discussed the societal forces behind the message of the Rotten Tomatoes-approved film and the specific eccentricities of his character. Steve comes to Netflix on October 3.
Cillian Murphy Reveals His Familial Ties To Steve
Steve sees Cillian Murphy take on the role of a beleaguered teacher–a role which the actor has been preparing for for his entire life. “Both my parents are retired teachers,” Murphy said, “and I feel there has to be something in it because it is so taxing emotionally. You have to give so much of yourself.”
“Teachers are so undervalued and underpaid,” Murphy continued. “There has to be something that makes them get up every morning and do it every day, and … you learn from these kids, too.”
“When you can connect with some kid and really help them become themselves or see the best of themselves, that must make you keep going.”
The actor also revealed his character’s approach to teaching, especially regarding how Steve shows up for his students even through his own personal issues. “You want to let them feel like you’re carrying them,” he said, “particularly in a school like this, where it’s not a mainstream school.”
“These kids have a lot of challenges,” Murphy continued, “they’re excluded from school, and I suppose society sees them as a problem as a statistic. If you let that fester, it can build and build and build into something else.”
“I think the whole philosophy of the school is to make them feel like, ‘No, you’re valuable and you’re worth something and you’re good enough.’”
How Steve’s Appearance Explains His Character
Cillian Murphy’s portrayal of Steve extends beyond his delivery of words on the page, with subtle visual details adding depth to the character. One such detail is handwriting on Steve’s hands, which Murphy explained by saying, “I mean, it was a simple thing.”
“I felt like he’s constantly behind time,” Murphy said. “He doesn’t have enough time. He’s got this to-do list–I used to do that all the time, before phone notes, [where] you just write stuff on your hands.”
“I think it’s something to do with getting tires for the car or something,” Murphy added, “and that’s a real note, because his car has fallen apart, and that’s a real number from that era. So, we just made it up.”
Warning: Spoilers for the end of Steve below.
Cillian Murphy Gives Advice For Interpreting Steve’s Ending
At the end of Steve, there is ambiguity around whether Steve saved the life of his young student Shy (Jay Lycurgo). According to Murphy, it’s “all up to the audience to decide” what happened (when asked, he said “I ain’t going to answer that”), but he did share one place for those clarity-hungry viewers to look.
“If you read the novel,” Murphy said, “there’s another version [of what happened.] People should go and read the novel as well.”
Steve is on Netflix now.
