Cillian Murphy first worked with Christopher Nolan nearly two decades ago in 2005. He auditioned to play Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins, but for different reasons, he lost the part to Christian Bale. Regardless, Nolan saw something in the young Irish talent and kept him in his sights by handing him the role of Scarecrow.
For the next 18 years, Murphy remained in the circle, playing several cameos in Nolan’s films. Through Oppenheimer, he finally got the opportunity to show his talents from the center of the stage. Considering the long journey and the movie’s immense success, one would expect any actor to go berserk in their celebrations. However, Murphy has remained the same – a loud presence on the big screen; quiet off it. And even an Oscar nomination couldn’t change him.
Read more: Only 3 Movies in History Has More Oscar Nominations Than Cillian Murphy’s Oppenheimer
How Cillian Murphy Celebrated His First-Ever Oscar Nomination
Cillian Murphy led the ensemble cast of Oppenheimer alongside Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, and Florence Pugh, among others. His portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist who oversaw the Manhattan Project and simultaneously fought his own battles of morality, earned plenty of plaudits following the release of the documentary feature in the summer of 2023.
Oppenheimer grossed a staggering $955.6 million at the box office and has now dominated the awards season. Most recently, Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece bagged 13 nods for the 96th Academy Awards. As expected, the Golden Globes winner, Murphy, is also in the mix, having been nominated for Best Actor.
All this time, Murphy has remained modest in his interviews, so much so that his castmates, in particular Downey Jr., have had to push him to the front to receive much-deserved applause. And it seems his celebrations after earning his first Oscar nomination were also modest.
At the time the nominations were announced, Murphy was in his home country of Ireland with his family. He told to Variety:
“I’m actually in my parents’ house in Cork city. I was with my parents and my wife today. So that was really nice. We had a cup of tea and a slice of cake. It was quite nice. My mom made a sponge cake. It was very tasty.”
It’s certainly not lavish, but there’s no better way to celebrate such a remarkable moment than enjoying quality time with your loved ones.
What Are Oppenheimer Lead Cillian Murphy’s Plans for the Oscars
Variety also asked Murphy about his Oscar plans and if he’s looking forward to meeting someone at the Oscars on the back of such an eventful awards season.
The Dunkirk star suggested he’s keeping an open mind and would let the universe do its thing rather than making a beeline for someone’s table. Considering the success Oppenheimer has enjoyed, there’s more chance celebrities would be swarming around his table.
The 47-year-old also revealed he plans to bring his wife and his children to the ceremony. As far as Oppenheimer family is concerned, he’d be joined by Downey Jr. and Blunt.
The Iron Man star is in the running for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for portraying Oppenheimer’s nemesis, Lewis Strauss. Meanwhile, the British actress is nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for playing Oppenheimer’s wife, Kitty.
