Have a look at the following newspaper article – http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/sep/24/cillian-murphy-interview-peaky-blinders-ballyturk

Now have a look at the questions below with their accompanying answers.

1a) What impression are we given of Cillian Murphy in the first paragraph?
• We are to see Murphy as a typical run of the mill man who lives a regular life with his family
• He is keen to remain out of the public eye

b) With close reference to the text, analyse how this impression is created.
• ‘seems keen to pass anonymously’
• ‘keen’ tells us this is something he really wants to do and anonymous tells us that he likes to keep a low profile.
• ‘a dad of two young sons, with his partner of almost 20 years’
• This is a typical description of a family man and shows us stability and security in his home life. He has been with his partner for two decades and they have two children together.
• ‘lives in the unglitzy borough of Kilburn’
• Again suggests a normalness to his life and a step away from celebrity with the word ‘unglitzy’
• ‘his only vices are tabasco and Dragon’s Den’
• There is a hint here that these are normal vices – a favourite food and tv programme – again they make Murphy seem average.

2. Analyse how the writer uses language to emphasise his admiration for Cillian Murphy in paragraph 2.
• ‘hardly been quiet supporting turns’
• Nothing Murphy has done has been under the radar, in fact he has usually played a major part in the films he has appeared in.
• ‘still underrated’
• He feels that one of Murphy’s roles should be given more critical thought and recognition that it currently receives as the film and murphy’s part in it were so good.

3. Explain, using your own words as far as possible, what Cillian Murphy found appealing about the role of Tommy Shelby in paragraph 3 and 4.
• Murphy liked the idea of playing someone who was the opposite of how he saw himself. He describes himself as a’wimp’ someone who is quite weak and he saw playing a tough guy as a bit of a challenge for himself.
• He also admits that he has played the bad guy before – the Scarecrow and a stalker – but that the bad side to these characters was a mental one whereas Shelby offered him a more physical part.

4. Explain the meaning of the writer’s image in paragraph 5 and analyse its effect.
• A metaphor is used to describe Murphy’s eyes as ‘huge, blue marbles’
• You get a sense that Murphy’s eyes are the main feature of his face and that they draw your attention immediately with their intense gaze.
• You get a sense from this that Murphy’s eyes are a clear and stony blue. There could be a rich or otherworldly feeling associated with seeing his eyes.

5. In your own words, explain what the writer means at the end of paragraph 6.
• Cillian Murphy is someone we would recognise as being a famous actor yet he does not involve himself in a celebrity lifestyle of being at all the events or endorsing products.
• A lot of people want to work with him and he is an easy-going person to work with

6a)summarise in your own words what Cillian Murphy dislikes about the world of celebrity in paragraph 7.
• Murphy dislikes the pressure to appear at events and the scrutiny the media places celebrities appearances under.

b) identify and explain how Cillian Murphy enjoys his anonymity in paragraph 8.
• Murphy’s anonymity allows him to behave like a normal person in day-to-day life
• He states “I get the bus, I get the tube, I go to the shop and get the milk” which shows us he is not being stalked by the media like some celebrities are and this allows him to just get on with things.
• He also feels his anonymity allows him to play real people better
• As he says if your “supposed to be playing a reall person it seems essential to live like a normal person”. This allows him to incorporate his life experiences into his acting pieces.

7. Analyse how the writer uses language to suggest that Ballyturk is an appealing work of theatre in paragraph 11.
• ‘but burrow under your skin’
• Suggests that the play will take a hold on you and you will want to watch it
• ‘plenty of manic, funny clowning’
• Suggests it is humorous and a bit mad-cap with lots of silliness in it that will appeal to most people. The tone of this phrase is also positive and light-hearted again engaging with the reader and convincing them that this is a play worth seeing.

8. Identify a purpose of this text. Explain your answer with close reference to the text.
• The purpose of this text is to inform us about Cillian Murphy.
• It is mostly a promotional piece on his two works – the TV show that is currently airing called Peaky Blinders and the National Theatre production he is starring in called Ballyturk.

9. A text may have many audiences. Identify a possible audience for this text, and explain your answer with close reference to the text.
• A possible audience for this text could be people interested in film/ in TV drama/ people interested in the theatre/ fans of Cillian Murphy/ those interested in celebrity life. (these are all possible audiences for this piece of work, you need to identify only one of these and show how you arrived at that conclusion for the next part of your answer).
• There is a focus on Christopher Nolan and his role as the Scarecrow in the first two Batman films OR There is an emphasis on his role as Tommy Shelby and his ‘return to screen’ in the second series of Peaky Blinders OR it mentions the Ballyturk which is ‘currently receiving rave reviews at the National Theatre’ OR the focus on different aspects of Murphy’s life as it tells us about his family life and certain bits of his childhood aswell as his likes and dislikes and the trajectory his career has taken.