Cillian Murphy has revealed his affection for a certain Irish football pundit and former player.

Speaking recently for a profile in the Financial Times, the Cork-born actor opened up about his love for fellow Irishman and footballing legend Roy Keane, who is the joint most successful Irish footballer of all time.

Keane, 52, spent 13 years of his 18 year-long footballing career at Manchester United, as well as representing the Republic of Ireland at multiple international competitions.

Speaking of Keane, who went on to work as a studio analyst and pundit for ITV and Sky Sports, Murphy said: “[Roy Keane] is actually one of my favourite people.”

He continued: “I met him once in an airport, and we had a very intense chat for about an hour and a half.”

When asked if he saw a “kindred spirit” between the two, the Peaky Blinders star replied: “I did. He’s got that thing, that Cork sense… straight to the heart of the issue.”

“He’s a legend,” he added. “Everything he stands for, I love.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Murphy shared his admiration for Christopher Nolan, with whom he has collaborated on six films, including the highly acclaimed Oppenheimer. “I’ve never seen a more effective use of time on a film set, ever, in my whole career,” he said.

He shared about Nolan’s film sets: “No phones, real locations if possible, so you don’t have guys standing around with lights and scrolling phones. He keeps the catering miles away from the set. It focuses everybody. Everyone expects excellence, because he delivers excellence all of the time.”

In other recent news, it has been confirmed that Murphy will be reprising his role of Tommy Shelby in the forthcoming Peaky Blinders movie.