His father is a school inspector and his mother is a French teacher. He schooled at Presentation Brothers College Cork. Has a younger brother, Páidi, a design engineer. Father is a school inspector. Lives in London, England. He plays in a Frank Zappa-influenced band called 'Sons of Mr. Greengenes'. Has two sisters, Sile and Orla. First name pronounced "Kill-ian". He was planning a career in law until he discovered the world of acting. Although he is a vegetarian, he learned to chop up meat in an abattoir for his role as butcher in Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003). Auditioned for the role of Batman in Batman Begins (2005). The role was eventually given to Christian Bale. But director Christopher Nolan liked Cillian's audition so much that he gave him a role as Batman's arch- nemesis Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow, who is a developing character in this movie. He was the oldest of four children. Though he did not get the role of Batman in Batman Begins (2005), he did get to wear the batsuit during an audition with Christopher Nolan. Proposed to wife while hill-walking in Ireland. Son Malachy was born December 4th, 2005, weighing 7 pounds and 5 ounces Played two psychopaths in 2005: Dr. Jonathan Crane (Scarecrow) in Batman Begins (2005) and Jackson Rippner in Red Eye (2005). As of 2006 he is the most nominated Irish Actor at the Irish Film and Television Awards with 6 nominations. He greatly admires actor Liam Neeson. Looks at him as a surrogate movie dad. Is fluent in French and Gaelic.
