Irish actor Cillian Murphy has made history by becoming the first Irish-born star to win Best Actor at the Oscars for his portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.
“I’m a very proud Irishman standing here tonight,” said Murphy and concluded by saying: “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.”
Cillian Murphy’s acceptance speech after winning Best Actor at the #Oscars
pic.twitter.com/tW2MpfpW5L— Christopher Nolan Art & Updates (@NolanAnalyst) March 11, 2024
Oppenheimer was the big winner on the night receiving seven Academy Awards, while Poor Things, made by an Irish studio, Element Pictures, also took 4 Oscars – Best Actress, Makeup and Hairstyling, Production Design, and Costume Design – a record haul for an Irish-produced film.