'One Man’s Monster, Another Man’s Hero': Cillian Murphy Bags Best Actor Award For Oppenheimer At BAFTA 2024

Defeating nominees like Bradley Cooper (Maestro) and Paul Giamatti (The Holdover), Cillian Murphy won the Best Actor Award for his performance in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. At the 77th BAFTA Awards, while Nolan won his first Best Director award, the actor also became the first Irish-born actor to take a BAFTA home. In total, Oppenheimer won a total of seven awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor, thus cementing its race to the Academy Awards now.

During his acceptance speech, Murphy was seen extending gratitude to his director as he said, “Thank you for that extraordinary, exhilarating script, and for always pushing me.” Further speaking about his character as physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb, the actor added, “Oppenheimer was this colossally knotty, complex character, and he meant different things to different people. One man’s monster is another man’s hero. That’s why I love movies… as a place to interrogate and investigate that complexity.”

Cillian Murphy as a ‘proud Irishman’

Besides the acceptance speech, the actor was also seen speaking backstage at the Royal Festival Hall and showing happiness over his BAFTA win. “I’m a really, really proud Irishman. I have to say that, of course. And it means a lot to me to be Irish,” he said.

Further joking about what he should say, Murphy added, “I don’t know what else to say. Should I sing a rebel song? It’s a little overwhelming. It’s kind of mind-blowing. I’m thrilled and a little shocked.”

Oppenheimer’s nominations at the BAFTA Awards

Having had the highest number of nominations at the 77th British Academy Film Awards, Oppenheimer won the Best Film award against Poor Things, Killers of the Flower Moon, Anatomy of a Fall, and The Holdovers.

Besides the three leading awards, the film also bagged trophies for editing, cinematography, musical score, and, not to forget, the Best Supporting Actor award for Robert Downey Jr. With the Golden Globe and now the BAFTA, the film and its cast are now looking forward to the Oscars with really high hopes.

About Oppenheimer

Based on the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, also known as the father of the atomic bomb, Oppenheimer shows Cillian Murphy portraying the titular role. The film focuses on the physicist’s role in developing the atomic bomb in line with the ‘Manhattan Project’.