Oscar-winning actor Cillian Murphy has ignited conversation across social media after a series of high-profile commendations for his Steve co-star, the Mercury Prize-winning artist Little Simz (Simbi Ajikawo). The praise, drawn from recent press interviews, has been widely circulated as a testament to the powerful on-screen chemistry and mutual respect between the two stars.
Murphy, who has rarely been so effusive about a collaborator, described himself as a long-time “massive fan” of the rapper and actress.
The tributes are in connection with their new Netflix drama, Steve, which premiered globally on September 19. Murphy stars as the titular headteacher of a last-chance reform school, while Little Simz plays Shola, a student.
From Fan to Collaborator: Murphy’s Push to Cast Simz
The circulation of Murphy’s praise, often shared across Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) by fans of both stars, emphasizes his instrumental role in bringing Little Simz onto the project.
In an interview snippet now trending online, Murphy revealed that casting the musician was the director’s dream and one he fully supported, citing his personal admiration for her work.
“I’m a massive fan, and I’d seen your work on Top Boy,” Murphy told Dazed, referencing Simz’s critically acclaimed acting debut. “A lot of musicians are fantastic actors. It’s another side of the coin.”
The actor, who also served as a producer on the film, highlighted the inherent musicality he finds in acting, suggesting it was a core reason why musicians often excel on screen. “A lot of acting is musical… That scene that we have at the end of the day, you feel the rhythms,” he stated.
Dual Role: Acting and Original Music
Little Simz’s contribution to Steve extended beyond her nuanced performance as Shola. She also recorded an original song for the soundtrack, “Don’t Leave Too Soon,” which is woven throughout the film’s emotional core.
Murphy called the track “Such a tune” and praised the way Simz encapsulated the film’s heavy emotional themes in the three-and-a-half-minute track. Simz, for her part, described the song as a “love letter” to the film’s troubled protagonists.
Mutual Admiration Society
The high praise appears to be entirely mutual. In a separate interview, Little Simz described the experience of working alongside the Oppenheimer star with equal admiration.
“Cillian’s magic, man. He’s one-on-one,” she said. “He’s such a nice guy, but super focused, and his focus like trickles down… I’m so blessed I got to, you know, work with him in my lifetime, like not only just see him on screen as a fan, but actually work in close proximity—it’s crazy.”
The public exchange of praise has cemented the creative partnership between the two artists as one of the most exciting collaborations of the current film season, with fans now eager to see if the duo will reunite for future projects.
Steve is currently streaming worldwide on Netflix.