Tom Blyth has apologised after mistakenly calling the Irish actor Cillian Murphy a ‘British icon’.
The 30-year-old actor, best known for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, has been critiqued by fans after accidentally calling the legendary Oppenheimer actor a Brit.
In an interview while at a photoshoot for Burberry’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection at London Fashion Week, the actor was asked a few fun questions. When asked which ‘British icon’ he’d like to see in a Burberry shoot, the star made a faux pas.
‘British icon I’d like to see in a Burberry campaign? Ooh, I mean, Cillian Murphy. Let’s say Cillian,’ he said.
Of course, being Irish, Cillian may qualify as an icon, but he certainly isn’t British and is very proudly from Cork.
The actor has now apologised for his mix-up: ‘Firstly, I’m so sorry to you and your people,’ he told The Standard.
‘I’ve nothing but respect for the Irish and I love Cillian Murphy. I was so embarrassed — I was so jetlagged that I didn’t listen to the question properly and I just blurted it out.’
He then joked that he was unlikely to ever work with the actor: ‘Oh my God, Cillian Murphy is never going to want to work with me.’
He continued to profusely apologise: ‘I genuinely was knackered and just not listening properly. I’ve learned my lesson. Next time, critically, hearing is an important thing.’
After Tom’s initial comments, fans and fellow celebrities were quick to share their frustration that the Steve actor had been misrepresented. Many took to the comment section of a post from LadBible Ireland sharing the story.
Irish actress Eve Hewson, who is also Bono’s daughter, commented on the post: ‘Oh, boy.’
Irish singer Imelda May commented: ‘It usually goes like this:
“I know you Irish are officially not British but …you kinda just are though aren’t you… like I know that you’re all ‘not’ but you all ‘are’ though”’
Love Island star Greg O’Shea commented with a vomit emoji.
Tom, who is set to star in the upcoming film People We Meet on Vacation, was defended by some of his fans.
‘Guys, he’s jet lagged and didn’t know 😔,’ said arwa.cat.
Connorsavages joked: ‘You can have Conor McGregor if that works?’
Marfawest added: ‘i guess he’s a british icon in the same way cher is a gay icon (she’s not gay but gays love her)’
This isn’t the first time Cillian has been mistakenly called British during his career. Famously, while being interviewed about Inception, he and Tom Hardy were called ‘British actors’.
To this, Cillian said: ‘Nah, I’m Irish.’
The journalist replied: ‘Yeah, I know, British.’
The actor firmly replied: ‘No, no, no, no, there’s a big difference.’
In an interview at the Baftas the actor spoke about his pride in being Irish, telling reporters: ‘I’m a really proud Irishman.
‘I have to say that, of course, I am. It means a lot to me to be Irish. So I don’t know what else to say. Should I sing a rebel song?’ he said with a laugh at the end.
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