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Cillian Murphy praised for sending message using Irish language as he makes history at the Oscars

Cillian Murphy praised for sending message using Irish language as he makes history at the Oscars

The Oppenheimer actor has been commended for his speech

Oppenheimer ruled the 96th Academy Awards last night (10 March), taking home a staggering seven awards from 13 nominations.

This included Best Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr, Best Director for Christopher Nolan and Best Picture for the film itself.

And of course, Best Actor for the man who played J. Robert Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy.

The 47-year-old portrayed the troubled but genius theoretical physicist that led the project to create the first atomic bomb, and was favourite to take the award home.

Beating out the likes of Bradley Cooper and Paul Giamatti, Cork-born Murphy also became the first Irishman to claim the accolade.

Making his way up to the stage, he shook the hands of previous winners of the award, such as Forest Whitaker, Brendan Fraser and Matthew McConaughey before taking to the mic for his speech.

Murphy said he felt 'a little overwhelmed' on stage, and admitted: "I'm a very proud Irish man standing here tonight."

"It's been the wildest, most exhilarating, most creatively satisfying journey you've taken me on over the last 20 years. I owe you more than I can say," he said to Nolan and Emma Thomas about creating Oppenheimer.

Cillian Murphy was praised for his message in Irish during his acceptance speech.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images

The Peaky Blinders star thanked his family in addition to the cast and crew of Oppenheimer, before going on to say: "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'd really like to dedicate this to the peacemakers, everywhere."

The actor signed off with some Cúpla Focal: "Go raibh míle maith agaibh."

Cúpla Focal, when translated, basically means 'a few words', and it was a proud nod to his Irish nationality and heritage.

According to Machnamh.com, 'Go raibh mile maith agat' is Irish for 'a thousand thank yous'.

Speaking backstage, the actor continued his words of gratitude, explaining: “It’s really, really meaningful to me and I don't know if I said this in my speech because I can't remember what I said, but I do want to say that I think in Ireland, we're really great at supporting artists."

He also urged that the country needs to support the next generation of actors and directors coming through.

Murphy took home the Best Actor accolade.
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Users were quick to praise his speech and the Irish message at the end of it, posting their opinions on X, formerly Twitter.

One commented: "His acceptance speech was amazing. Especially that last part will go down in movie history as one of the best speeches ever given."

Another said: "Perfect shot for this LEGEND!"

A third put: "That’s how to do a speech. Be more like Cillian."

The Oscars Best Actor award rounds off a huge sweep for the Irish actor, who also picked up a Golden Globe, a BAFTA and a Screen Actors Guild Award, among other accolades.

Oscars 2024 Winners

Best director

Anatomy of a Fall - Justine Triet

Killers of the Flower Moon - Martin Scorsese

Oppenheimer - Christopher Nolan - WINNER

Poor Things - Yorgos Lanthimos

The Zone of Interest - Jonathan Glazer

Best actor

Bradley Cooper - Maestro

Colman Domingo - Rustin

Paul Giamatti - The Holdovers

Cillian Murphy - Oppenheimer - WINNER

Jeffrey Wright - American Fiction

Best actress

Annette Bening - Nyad

Lily Gladstone - Killers of the Flower Moon

Sandra Huller - Anatomy of a Fall

Carey Mulligan - Maestro

Emma Stone - Poor Things - WINNER

Best picture

American Fiction

Anatomy of a Fall

Barbie

The Holdovers

Killers of the Flower Moon

Maestro

Oppenheimer - WINNER

Past Lives

Poor Things

The Zone of Interest

Best supporting actress

Emily Blunt - Oppenheimer

Danielle Brooks - The Color Purple

America Ferrera - Barbie

Jodie Foster - Nyad

Da'Vine Joy Randolph - The Holdovers - WINNER

Best animated short

Letter to a Pig

Ninety-Five Senses

Our Uniform

Pachyderme

War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko - WINNER

Best animated feature

The Boy and the Heron - WINNER

Elemental

Nimona

Robot Dreams

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Best original screenplay

Anatomy of a Fall - WINNER

The Holdovers

Maestro

May December

Past Lives

Best adapted screenplay

American Fiction - WINNER

Barbie

Oppenheimer

Poor Things

The Zone of Interest

Best make-up and hairstyling

Golda

Maestro

Oppenheimer

Poor Things - WINNER

Society of the Snow

Best production design

Barbie

Killers of the Flower Moon

Napoleon

Oppenheimer

Poor Things - WINNER

Best costume design

Barbie

Killers of the Flower Moon

Napoleon

Oppenheimer

Poor Things - WINNER

Best international feature

Io Capitano

Perfect Days

Society of the Snow

The Teachers' Lounge

The Zone of Interest - WINNER

Best supporting actor

Sterling K Brown - American Fiction

Robert De Niro - Killers of the Flower Moon

Robert Downey Jr - Oppenheimer - WINNER

Ryan Gosling - Barbie

Mark Ruffalo - Poor Things

Best visual effects

The Creator

Godzilla Minus One - WINNER

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One

Napoleon

Best film editing

Anatomy of a Fall

The Holdovers

Killers of the Flower Moon

Oppenheimer - WINNER

Poor Things

Best documentary short

The ABCs of Book Banning

The Barber of Little Rock

Island In Between

The Last Repair Shop - WINNER

Nǎi Nai and Wài Pó

Best documentary feature

Bobi Wine: The People's President

The Eternal Memory

Four Daughters

To Kill a Tiger

20 Days in Mariupol - WINNER

Best live action short

The After

Invincible

Knight of Fortune

Red, White and Blue

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar - WINNER

Best cinematography

El Conde

Killers of the Flower Moon

Maestro

Oppenheimer - WINNER

Poor Things

Best sound

The Creator

Maestro

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One

Oppenheimer - WINNER

The Zone of Interest

Best original score

American Fiction

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Killers of the Flower Moon

Oppenheimer - WINNER

Poor Things

Best original song

'The Fire Inside' - Flamin' Hot (Diane Warren)

'I'm Just Ken' - Barbie (Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt)

'It Never Went Away' - American Symphony (Jon Batiste, Dan Wilson)

'Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)' - Killers of the Flower Moon (Scott George)

'What Was I Made For?' - Barbie (Billie Eilish, Finneas O'Connell) - WINNER

Featured Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images/Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Topics: Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer, Oscars, TV and Film, Celebrity, Ireland