Cillian Murphy Fine With Prospect Of ‘Oppenheimer’ As His Career-Capping Achievement – Oscars Backstage

If Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer marks the high point in the career of Cillian Murphy, and is the film for which he’s always remembered, so be it, the actor said, in an appearance backstage at tonight’s Oscars.

“[I’d be] very content,” said the actor, recognized with Best Actor for his turn as “father of the atomic bomb,” J. Robert Oppenheimer. “I mean, you know, you’ve got to move forward, but this has been a huge, huge moment for me. The movie is so special to me, and myself and Chris have such a special relationship that I just feel very privileged to get to work with him.”

Continued Murphy: “I’m very proud that this is a film that is provocative and that asks questions and is challenging, but yet so many people want to see it. I’m really, really proud of that.”

Murphy shared earlier in his chat with press that his win had left him “very overwhelmed, very humbled” and “in a little bit of a daze.” He added that he’s “very very grateful and very proud to be Irish, standing here today.”

Leading in nominations tonight at a tally of 13, Oppenheimer won seven, the other categories in which it was recognized being Best Picture, Directing, Original Score, Cinematography, Editing, and Supporting Actor. Considered neck in neck with Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers) as a favorite to win tonight, the actor also bested talent including Bradley Cooper (Maestro), Colman Domingo (Rustin), and Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction).

Grossing nearly $1 billion globally when it hit theaters last summer opposite Warner Bros’ Barbie, Oppenheimer finds America locked in a devastating war, watching as Murphy’s physicist becomes the central figure in a pulse-pounding race against the Nazis to develop the first atomic bomb. Also recognized for onscreen work in the historical epic was Robert Downey Jr., who didn’t wind up making it backstage.

Nolan scripted the adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. Nolan, wife Emma Thomas and Atlas Entertainment’s Charles Roven served as the film’s producers.

Video of Murphy’s backstage appearance can be found above.