March 12, 2024

Oppenheimer‘s Cillian Murphy has become the first Irish-born star to win the Oscar for Best Actor at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, with Poor Things, produced by the Dublin-based Element Pictures, winning in four categories, including Best Actress for Emma Stone.

Oppenheimer was the big winner on the night with seven Academy Awards, while Murphy accepted his Oscar to a standing ovation.

“I’m a little bit overwhelmed,” the Cork man said on stage in the Dolby Theatre.

He thanked Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan, “every single crew member, every single cast member – you carried me through”, and also saluted his fellow nominees, saying: “I’m in awe of you guys.”

Murphy then thanked his parents, Brendan and Mary; “Yvonne McGuinness, my partner in life and art”, and “my two boys, Malachy and Aran, who are sitting up there – I love you so much.”

“I’m a very proud Irishman standing here tonight,” said Murphy.

He concluded: “We made a film about the man who created the atomic bomb, and for better or for worse, we’re all living in Oppenheimer’s world, so I would really like to dedicate this to the peacemakers everywhere.

“Go raibh míle maith agaibh.”

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