LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cillian Murphy called himself a “very proud Irishman” after he trotted onstage to claim his first-ever Oscar for portraying the man who created the atomic bomb in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster biopic “Oppenheimer.”“I'm a little overwhelmed,” said Murphy, who won best actor for his stellar role as J. Robert Oppenheimer.
Murphy, though a regular presence in Nolan films going back almost two decades, had always been a supporting player.
Murphy thanked Nolan and the director's wife, Emma Thomas, a producer on the film.
“It's been the wildest, most exhilarating, most creatively, satisfying journey you've taken me on over the last 20 years,” Murphy said to Nolan.
“But deep down, secretly, I was desperate to play a lead for him.”Murphy came into the Academy Awards a strong contender after picking up trophies at the Golden Globes, SAG Awards and BAFTA Film Awards.
Persons:
— Cillian Murphy, ”, Oscar, Christopher Nolan’s, “ Oppenheimer, Murphy, Robert Oppenheimer, Oppenheimer, Nolan, Emma Thomas, “ It's, ” Murphy, “, “ Oppenheimer ”, Robert Downey Jr, ” Ben Kingsley, Murphy's, Kingsley, ” Kingsley, ” “, it’s, I’d, ’ ”, Chris
Organizations:
ANGELES, Associated Press, Academy, Golden Globes, BAFTA
Locations:
Alamos