‘One man’s monster, another man’s hero’: Cillian Murphy wins 2024 BAFTA award for Oppenheimer

Cillian Murphy beat out nominees such as Bradley Cooper (“The Master”) and Paul Giamatti (“Kept”) for his role in Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” Won the Best Actor Award for his performance. At the 77th British Academy Film and Television Arts Awards, Nolan won his first Best Director Award, and he also became the first Irish-born actor to win a British Academy Film and Television Arts Award. In total, Oppenheimer won seven awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor, cementing his bid for the Academy Award.

In his acceptance speech, Murphy expressed his gratitude to the director, saying: “Thank you for your extraordinary, exciting script and for always pushing me.” In further talking about his role as the father of the atomic bomb, Physics Robert Oppenheimer, the actor added, “Oppenheimer is a very difficult, complex character who means different things to different people. One man’s monster is another man’s hero. That’s why I love movies… as a place to question and investigate that complexity.”

Cillian Murphy as “Proud Irishman”

As well as his acceptance speech, the actor also spoke backstage at the Royal Festival Hall to express his joy at winning the award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). “I’m a very, very proud Irishman. Of course, I have to say that. Being Irish means a lot to me,” he said.

Murphy further joked about what he should say, “I don’t know what else to say. Should I sing a rebel song? It’s a little overwhelming. It’s kind of exciting. I’m excited and a little shocked.”

Oppenheimer nominated for BAFTA Awards

Oppenheimer received the most nominations at the 77th British Academy Film Awards, winning Best Picture for “Poor Things,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Anatomy of Autumn” and “Old School.”

In addition to the three major awards, the film also won awards for editing, cinematography, soundtrack, and not to forget, Robert Downey Jr. also won the Best Supporting Actor award. With the Golden Globes and now the Baftas coming up, the film and its cast now have serious Oscar hopes.

About Oppenheimer

Based on the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, known as the father of the atomic bomb, Oppenheimer cast Cillian Murphy to play the eponymous character. The film focuses on the role physicists played in the Manhattan Project’s development of the atomic bomb.