Cillian Murphy's Shift to a Vegan Lifestyle
In recent years, Academy Award-winning actor Cillian Murphy has transitioned to a vegan diet, driven by both ethical and environmental concerns. This change marks the latest chapter in a long and evolving dietary history. Murphy's journey, which includes a decades-long period of vegetarianism and a temporary relapse, provides a compelling look into the personal and professional factors that can shape a person's eating habits. His candid discussions about his diet offer insight into the actor's thoughtful approach to life and work, and the misconceptions surrounding plant-based nutrition.
Early Vegetarianism and the "Mad Cow" Scare
Cillian Murphy initially became a vegetarian during his younger years, starting around the early 2000s. His motivation at the time was not ethical, but a very practical fear regarding the outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or "mad cow disease". The fatal brain disorder, spread through contaminated beef products, led many people to reconsider their meat consumption. For nearly 15 years, Murphy abstained from eating meat, a choice he later described as a health-based decision rather than a moral one.
The Peaky Blinders "Relapse"
To prepare for his career-defining role as Tommy Shelby in the series Peaky Blinders, Murphy's dietary choices were challenged. To physically transform into the tough, intimidating gangster, Murphy's trainer advised him to reintroduce meat into his diet. The concern was that he looked too much like a "skinny Irish fella," a perception that eating meat was needed to bulk up for the part. For the first series, Murphy followed this advice, consuming meat again after a long hiatus. He famously recalled having a venison steak for the first time, an experience he described as "very nice". This period, however, was a temporary one. Murphy eventually returned to a meat-free diet, a decision solidified when his brief reintroduction to venison made him feel no better than before.
The Transition to Veganism for Health and Planet
Following his time on Peaky Blinders, Murphy returned to vegetarianism and has since taken his dietary principles one step further by adopting a vegan lifestyle. This time, his reasoning is multi-faceted. On the WTF with Marc Maron podcast, he stated his motivation was now "both" health and ethical, emphasizing that a plant-based diet is "better for the planet". This maturation of his dietary choices reflects a growing awareness of the environmental impact of animal agriculture and its links to zoonotic diseases. While he has adjusted well to being meat-free, Murphy admits that there is one animal product he truly misses: cheese.
Cillian Murphy's Dietary Timeline
- Early 2000s: Begins a vegetarian diet, primarily driven by fear of mad cow disease.
- Mid-2010s: Temporarily adds meat (including venison) to his diet for his role in Peaky Blinders, based on a trainer's advice.
- 2022: Returns to vegetarianism after the Peaky Blinders role concludes.
- 2023: Announces he is "trying the vegan thing," marking a transition to a plant-based diet for ethical and environmental reasons.
- Mid-2023: Acknowledges a period of extreme, unhealthy calorie restriction (though not just an 'almond a day') for his Oppenheimer role, but advises against such methods.
- Current (as of 2024): Confirms he does not miss meat and is adhering to a vegan diet, though he misses cheese.
Vegetarian vs. Vegan: A Comparison of Murphy's Diets
| Feature | Vegetarian (Early Murphy) | Vegan (Current Murphy) |
|---|---|---|
| Motivating Factors | Initially health concerns (mad cow disease). | Ethical and environmental considerations, plus health benefits. |
| Animal Products Excluded | Meat (including poultry, fish, etc.). | All animal products, including meat, dairy, eggs, and honey. |
| Temporary Relapse | Had a brief relapse into eating meat for a film role. | No relapses reported since transitioning to veganism. |
| Consistency | Consistent for many years, with one documented temporary break. | A more recent development but currently consistent. |
| Noteworthy Habits | Missed nothing from his diet during his 15-year stretch. | Reports missing cheese, but not meat. |
The 'Oppenheimer' Diet and its Context
While preparing for his Oscar-winning role in Oppenheimer, Murphy engaged in a drastic weight-loss regimen to achieve the physicist's emaciated appearance. This period, described by co-star Emily Blunt as an "almond a day" diet, was an intense and unhealthy undertaking for a specific role. Murphy has since advised against this extreme form of dieting, acknowledging that he became "competitive with himself" and that such a strict diet is not healthy. This is an important distinction from his regular, long-term dietary choices, highlighting the difference between his day-to-day lifestyle and the temporary, transformative requirements of his profession.
Conclusion: Cillian Murphy's Final Stance on Meat
In summary, while Cillian Murphy has a complex dietary history that includes periods of both vegetarianism and a brief return to meat-eating, his current position is clear: he is vegan. His journey from a fear-based avoidance of meat to a conscious, ethical, and environmental decision to live plant-based is a testament to his evolving perspective. Despite the professional demands of acting that have required temporary dietary changes, Murphy has consistently shown a preference for a diet free of animal products over the long term. This commitment is particularly notable given the outdated notion that meat is essential for building strength, a myth challenged by many high-performance vegan athletes today. For further context on his current diet, you can refer to the report by Plant Based News on Cillian Murphy's veganism.
