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FACETIME
‘I Thought, Well if That’s Acting,
I’m Going to Get Into That’
As evidenced by his roles in “Sons
of Anarchy” and “True Detective,”
Timothy Murphy has built a career
playing the villain. But in person, the
actor’s charming smile, steely eyes and
Irish accent couldn’t be less threatening.
In fact, they’re a better fit for Father
Ruskin, the at-least-sort-of good guy Murphy
gets to play in FX’s new series “The
Bastard Executioner.” SETH KELLEY
How does Father
Ruskin compare
to your prior roles?
Initially it didn’t
seem like it was
similar at all,
because he is a
priest. But there
are no good guys.
This guy is a priest,
but he’s a priest
with a past.
Timothy Murphy
What was your
first acting job?
I was living in
Florida and
dating this girl
who worked at a
casting agency. But
I wasn’t an actor
— I was working
in construction.
She told me they
were looking for
a James Dean-like
character for a
beer commercial.
And I, at the time,
looked like James
Dean. It was so
hot in South Beach
that I had to take
a break every 10
minutes just to get
the sweat off. But
three beautiful girls
started powdering
me down. I thought,
well if that’s acting,
I’m going to get into
that.
You got to do
something a little
different in “Grace
and Frankie.”
I was amazed they
would cast me in a
comedy, and then
as a love interest for
Jane Fonda. But in
real life, that’s more
like me. I don’t take
life too seriously.
You’re not actually
a badass villain?
I worked as a
bouncer in Dublin
while I studied
acting, but I’m
not a badass.
22 Top Billing PHOTOGRAPH BY TERENCE PATRICK