Cillian Murphy has won the Golden Globe for best actor in a motion picture – drama for his starring role in Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” in which he plays the J. Robert Oppenheimer, the “father of the atomic bomb.”
“I knew the first time I walked on a Christopher Nolan set that it was different,” Murphy said during his acceptance speech. “I could tell by the level of rigor, the level of focus, the level of dedication, the complete lack of any seating options for actors [Laughter] that I was in the hands of the visionary director and master.”
Murphy continued, “I want to thank Chris and Emma [Thomas] for having the faith in me for 20 years. Thanks so much. One of the most beautiful and vulnerable things about being an actor is that you can’t do it on your own, really. We had the most incredible ensemble cast in this movie. It was magic and some of them are here today. Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Gary Oldman. Thank you for carrying me and holding me through this movie.”
It marks Murphy’s first win and second nod in his career, after he was previously nominated for his role in the comedy/thriller film “Breakfast on Pluto” in 2006. “Oppenheimer” also earned nominations for best picture; director; screenplay; supporting actor in Robert Downey Jr. as Admiral Lewis Strauss; supporting actress in Emily Blunt as Kitty Oppenheimer; original score; and the new cinematic and box office achievement category.
Murphy beat fellow nominees Bradley Cooper (“Maestro”), Andrew Scott (“All of Us Strangers”), Colman Domingo (“Rustin”), Leonardo DiCaprio (“Killers of the Flower Moon”) and Barry Keoghan (“Saltburn”).
The 81st Golden Globe awards took place at Los Angeles’s Beverly Hilton on Jan. 7 and were hosted by Jo Koy.
