Charlie Murphy, best known for her roles in Peaky Blinders, Happy Valley, and Obsession, is preparing for one of the biggest roles of her life — becoming a mom.
At 37, the Irish actress is expecting her first child this month, and it’s been anything but an easy journey getting here.
After going through five emotional and physically demanding rounds of IVF over the course of two years, Charlie is finally in a place of peace and joy — something she once only dreamed about.
Finding Joy in the Symptoms: A Bittersweet Beginning
When Charlie found out she was pregnant, her reaction wasn’t quite what you’d expect.
“I was obviously happy,” she shared, “but I had to tell myself not to celebrate too much just yet.”
That caution came from a place of deep emotional scars.
The IVF process had taken its toll on her, both mentally and physically.
Having experienced so much heartache along the way, including a miscarriage, she admitted that even the uncomfortable pregnancy symptoms were welcome.
“I was just so happy to be out of the IVF rounds,” she said. “I embraced it all.”
The Rollercoaster of IVF: A Gamble Every Time
Opening up to The Irish Times, Charlie compared IVF to rolling dice in a casino — an uncertain investment of emotion, money, and time.
“When the last few rounds didn’t work out, I felt robbed,” she admitted. “It was hard, monotonous, and exhausting.”
She also shared that while she initially wanted to keep her IVF journey private, she’s glad to see more people speaking openly about fertility challenges.
“It’s so common,” she noted. “And being able to connect with other women going through it really helps you feel less alone.”
Nesting Mode Activated: Embracing the Calm Before Baby
These days, Charlie’s energy has shifted from emotional endurance to nesting bliss.
She’s been tidying drawers, organizing the house, and yes — even breaking out the label maker.
“I’m really enjoying it,” she smiled, describing her pre-baby routine.
Though she and her partner Sam Yates have yet to share baby bump photos on social media, the joy they feel is unmistakable behind the scenes.
A Private Love Story: Charlie and Sam’s Life Away From the Spotlight
Charlie has been in a long-term relationship with British director Sam Yates since 2019.
Sam, praised by The Guardian as a “major talent” and described as having “unusual flair” by The Observer, is no stranger to the creative world.
During the pandemic, the couple took a big step — buying a house together in London, where they now live.
Despite their public careers, they’ve kept their private life relatively low-key.
From Small-Town Girl to TV Powerhouse
Born in Ireland as the fourth of five children to hairdresser parents, Charlie Murphy’s journey to stardom started with humble roots.
She made her early mark in the critically acclaimed series Love/Hate alongside Killian Scott and Robert Sheehan.
Her success snowballed from there — with key roles in hit BBC dramas Peaky Blinders and Happy Valley, Charlie quickly became a household name.
She later starred opposite Richard Armitage in the steamy Netflix series Obsession, adapted from the erotic novel Damage, which critics boldly called “the sexiest thing on TV this year.”
Looking Ahead: A New Kind of Role for Charlie
As she gets ready to welcome her first child, Charlie Murphy is stepping into a brand-new role — one that doesn’t come with a script or rehearsals.
But after all she’s been through, it’s clear she’s more than ready for it.
She’s found strength in vulnerability, hope in heartache, and joy in the little things — and that’s a story worth celebrating.