“Oppenheimer” star Cillian Murphy was the man of the night at Sunday’s Academy Awards, taking home the Oscar for Best Actor.
The 47-year-old Irish thespian, the titular star of Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed historical drama, was the frontrunner for Sunday’s coveted prize at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre.
After thanking Nolan and producer Emma Thomas, as well as his team and his family, Murphy ended his speech by saying he was a “very very proud Irishman”.
“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. So I’d like to dedicate this to the peacemakers everywhere.”
The other nominees for Best Actor were Bradley Cooper for “Maestro,” Colman Domingo for “Rustin,” Paul Giamatti for “The Holdovers” and Jeffrey Wright for “American Fiction.”
The first-time nomination and first time win celebrates Murphy’s portrayal of famed physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer during the time of the Manhattan Project and the creation of the atomic bomb.
He previously described his role as a “colossally knotty, complex character” who “meant different things to different people.”
The “Peaky Blinders” star already won BAFTA, Golden Globe and SAG awards for his role this season.
Murphy’s “Oppenheimer” co-star Emily Blunt, who starred as his spouse, also received her first Oscar nomination this year. Robert Downey Jr., their on-screen nemesis, netted his second Academy Award nod for his supporting role in the film.
The three-hour film led the pack with 13 total nominations — including Best Picture — after raking in nearly $1 billion at the box office.
