Rebecca Manzi Actor Cillian Murphy adopted a plant-based diet for some time and, when he had to stop, he realized that it had no benefits at all
@cillianmurphyofficiall/Instagram
From Oscar glory to vegan choice
Irish actor Cillian Murphy, acclaimed for his starring role in the blockbuster movie Oppenheimer, which earned him the 2024 Oscar for Best Actor, has recently announced his transition to a vegan lifestyle. Speaking about his decision to adopt a plant-based diet, Murphy cited health and environmental benefits as his primary motivations. Despite relinquishing meat without regret, he confessed a particular longing for cheese, stating,
“I don’t miss meat. I stopped eating meat a long time ago. I had a kind of relapse and didn’t feel better, so I started again.”
Why he chose a plant-based diet
In a discussion on the WTF with Marc Maron podcast, when asked whether his decision was influenced by ethical or health reasons, Murphy responded,
“Both. Initially, it was the mad cow disease and everything else. But I think it’s better for the Planet. Veganism is a lifestyle choice against animal exploitation.”
Murphy, who had been a vegetarian for many years before his announcement, first adopted vegetarianism about 15 years ago during the mad cow disease scare, aiming to avoid zoonotic diseases associated with animal agriculture.
The journey back to plant-based eating
Murphy revisited meat consumption while filming the series Peaky Blinders, following advice from his then-trainer, who was keen on avoiding Murphy looking “like a skinny Irishman” and recommended meat for bulking up. However, Murphy quickly realized this advice was based on common misconceptions about vegan diets and health.
He found that a well-planned plant-based diet could meet all the protein requirements for both average individuals and bodybuilders. With numerous athletes and bodybuilders thriving on vegan diets, Murphy confidently returned to his plant-based eating habits, never looking back.
