Several Irish stars have made it to Hollywood, and some have performed in the industry with their body and soul. Cillian Murphy secured an Oscar for his astounding performance in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. Still, he is not the first Irish star to win Hollywood’s most prestigious award for the achievement in cinema that the world graciously follows.
Cillian Murphy’s First Oscar Win Tributes His Nation
Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer. Image Credit: Universal Picture
After collaborating with Christopher Nolan in five movies in supporting roles, Cillian Murphy made headlines as he was announced to be the lead star of Oppenheimer, which also marked their sixth collaboration. Murphy is no stranger to what Nolan wants and he delivered his best performance to date. The Irish star secured the Oscar for Best Actor while the movie dominated the award ceremony claiming seven wins including Nolan’s Best Director and Best Picture award.
“Chris Nolan and Emma Thomas, it’s been the wildest, most exhilarating, most creatively satisfying journey you’ve taken me on over the last 20 years,” the actor graciously thanked Nolan and his wife during his acceptance speech. “I owe you more than I can say. thank you so much,” the actor graciously thanked Nolan and his wife during his acceptance speech.
The actor also took a little space to celebrate his win with his roots, “I’m a very proud Irishman standing here tonight,” he added in his speech before dedicating his win to every peacemaker in the world.
“You know, 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 like to dedicate this to the peacemakers everywhere.”
Of course, Murphy deserved the win as he brilliantly played one of the most important figures in American history, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and the ups and downs of his life.
Murphy is the first Irish-born actor to win a Best Actor Oscar but not the first Irishman to win the Golden Statue, here are the actors with the Oscar win.
Barry Fitzgerald
Barry Fitzgerald won the Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Going My Way. Image Credit: John Irving/CC
Portobello native Barry Fitzgerald was the first Irish actor to win the Oscars but the actor also shared an astonishing record. Fitzgerald was nominated for both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor in a single movie making him the only actor to hold the unique record. Fitzgerald received double Oscar nominations for his role as Father Fitzgibbon in the 1944 Bing Crosby musical Going My Way, he secured the Best Supporting Actor win.
Brenda Fricker
Brenda Fricker in My Left Foot. Image Credit: Miramax
Brenda Fricker who appeared in Thom Fitzgerald’s masterful work Cloudburst won an Oscar as The Best Supporting Actress for her astounding portrayal of Mrs. Brown in Jim Sheridan’s My Left Foot. The Dublin native’s Oscar win in 1990 was remarkable as her performance was a critical darling.
Daniel Day-Lewis
Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln. Image Credit: 20th Century Studios.
Daniel Day-Lewis who retired from acting after creating a stupendous career to his name has been one of the greatest actors in the cinematic history of the world. The London-born Irish star claimed his first of three Oscars for his performance in Christy Brown in the 1989 biographical comedy-drama, My Left Foot celebrating alongside his co-star Fricker.
The actor created his cinematic legacy and worked with several masters in Hollywood including Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Paul Thomas Anderson. The actor who is known for his method acting prowess, won the second Oscar after playing Daniel Plainview in Anderson’s 2007 Western thriller There Will Be Blood. Day-Lewis won the final Oscar for one of his best performances, if not the best, for his immaculate portrayal of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln in Spielberg-directed biographical historical drama Lincoln.
The 66-year-old star is now retired from acting and currently living in Wicklow, Ireland.
