Cillian Murphy Crowned Best 1 ST Actor at Oscars for “Oppenheimer” Role

Irish Powerhouse Cillian Murphy Claims Best Actor Oscar for “Oppenheimer” Role

In a night of triumph, Irish actor Cillian Murphy emerged victorious at the 96th Academy Awards, claiming the coveted Best Actor statuette for his powerful portrayal in Christopher Nolan’s biopic “Oppenheimer.”

Murphy embodies J. Robert Oppenheimer, the enigmatic physicist who spearheaded the Manhattan Project, forever etching his mark on history with the development of atomic weapons. The film, based on the acclaimed book “American Prometheus” by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, marks Murphy’s sixth collaboration with director Nolan, a partnership that began with his iconic role as the Scarecrow in “Batman Begins.”

Murphy’s performance faced stiff competition from a stellar line-up of nominees, including Paul Giamatti for “The Holdovers,” Jeffrey Wright for “American Fiction,” and Bradley Cooper for “Maestro.” However, his captivating performance in “Oppenheimer” propelled him to frontrunner status, having already secured a string of awards before the Oscars, including Best Actor at the BAFTAs, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Golden Globe for Best Actor (Drama).

This momentous win adds to Murphy’s already impressive career, which includes his starring role in Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or-winning film “The Wind That Shakes the Barley” at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, and his double win at the National Television Awards for his captivating performance in the period gangster series “Peaky Blinders.”

Cillian Murphy etched his name in Oscar history, becoming the third Irish actor to claim the Best Actor award. He joins the ranks of Daniel Day-Lewis (who holds dual British and Irish citizenship) and Barry Fitzgerald, who won in 1945.

In his acceptance speech, Murphy expressed his gratitude to director Christopher Nolan and producer Emma Thomas, along with his team and family. He closed with a powerful statement, declaring his pride in his Irish heritage and dedicating the win to “peacemakers everywhere.” The weight of the film’s subject matter wasn’t lost on him, acknowledging, “We made a film about the man who created the atomic bomb, and for better or worse we’re now living in Oppenheimer’s world now.”

Catch up on the 2024 Oscars:

• Relive the night’s events with a full recap of the ceremony.
• Explore the complete list of winners, including Cillian Murphy and Emma Stone for Best Acting awards, and Christopher Nolan’s historic first directing Oscar for “Oppenheimer.”
• Get a chuckle with Jimmy Kimmel’s opening monologue, which tackled everything from Greta Gerwig’s directing snub to Messi the award show dog.
• See which stars, like Billie Eilish and Ramy Youssef, wore red Gaza ceasefire pins as a statement.
• Learn about the pre-ceremony protests by pro-Palestine groups that delayed some celebrity arrivals.