LOVE LETTER TO CILLIAN'S FOLKS

CILL-ER ROLES Cillian has growing list of smashes

- BY MATT ROPER and MARC BAKER

CILLIAN Murphy did not have to look far for inspiration for his latest role as a headteacher running a boys’ reform school.

While the Peaky Blinders star admits he was a “little sh*thead” as a pupil, he comes from a long line of educators, including both his parents.

And he credits schoolmaster William Wall, who believed in him despite his antics, with setting him on the course to stardom.

The Irishman said: “I was always messing and causing trouble.

“But I also had this really excellent teacher in school, my English teacher, who gave me brilliant insight into literature and theatre, and encouraged me towards music and acting. So I kind of feel like I had every angle covered just through my life growing up.”

Cillian was speaking as his new movie, Steve, premieres ahead of its October 3 release on Netflix.

The project, produced by the actor's own company and filmed in Bath, Somerset, unfolds over 24 hours, capturing the challenges headmaster Steve faces in maintaining order among his students while grappling with his own mental health issues.