This may be the most badass actor most Americans have seen, but not really thought much about him. He has some pretty cool roles and Americans should know more about this guy. Just watch the movie Sunshine and tell me Capa isn't the coolest astronaut of all time. Murphy also has a role that is one of my favorites in any zombie movie (28 days later). The main list pic is such an epic one of the most badass Irishmen in the past 30 years.
http://www.ranker.com/list/cillian-murphy_s-greatest-roles-v1/stokified,
Ivan
Aloft
Jackson Rippner
Red Eye
Patrick 'Kitten' Braden
Breakfast on Pluto
Pieter
Girl With a Pearl Earring
Bardolph
Cold Mountain
Jim
28 Days Later
John
Intermission
Paul Montague
The Way We Live Now
Pig
Disco Pigs
Gus
How Harry Became a Tree