Cork native Cillian Murphy might be the hot favourite to win the Best Actor Oscar at the Academy Awards this Sunday, but in typical Irish fashion, the Oppenheimer star says he is “just going to enjoy it” and “do our best”.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland by phone from Los Angeles Murphy, who has already won a Golden Globe, a BAFTA and a SAG award for his starring turn in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, said the support he is getting ahead of the Oscars ceremony is “a lovely feeling”.
“At the moment, it’s just this kind of whirlwind and it’s so humbling and overwhelming and you’re just kind of in it. You know, everyone says this but it’s true: no one makes films to win awards; we just make them because we enjoy making them.
“We make them mostly for ourselves and if audiences go for it and understand it, that’s a bonus. So, honestly, that’s all I’m thinking about at the moment is just this great celebration of the film and of the great year we’ve had for cinema.”
Watch: Cillian Murphy says being in Oppenheimer was a ‘gift’
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Also flying the Irish flag on Sunday night are Element Pictures, who are nominated for a whopping 11 awards for Poor Things – a record for an Irish-produced film – and it is the second most nominated film this year behind Oppenheimer with 13.
Speaking about representing Ireland alongside Element Pictures at the biggest night in Hollywood, Murphy said: “It’s great there’s a few of us here together and just going to enjoy it, do our best, I suppose!
But is he nervous about winning the coveted gold statue?
“What will be, will be, you know? And there’ll be a good gang of us there. You kind of get to know some of these people on the circuit and they’re people that you really, really admire and it’s lovely to be able to celebrate films collectively together.”
While Murphy and Element Pictures may be front and centre on Sunday night, Murphy said they are part of a “good gang” of Irish filmmakers and talent who are having a very important moment on the international stage.
“Brilliant performances by Barry Keoghan, Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal. Like, there’s a good gang of us. And, of course, there’s Saoirse [Ronan] and Jessie Buckley. There seems to be a good crop around at the moment. And then, of course, Poor Things, so it’s lovely to be part of that.
Murphy also spoke to Morning Ireland about reuniting with his Disco Pigs alum – writer Edna Walsh and co-star Eileen Walsh – on the adaptation of Claire Keegan’s book Small Things Like These.
“Yeah, so, Enda adapted that, and Eileen Walsh who was in Disco Pigs with me so many, many years ago – I’m ageing us both – but we’re in the film together again. We just showed it in Berlin and we had a great response to it. So hopefully it’ll be out in Ireland this year.
Watch: First look at Cillian Murphy in Small Things Like These
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“We actually got to film in New Ross where the novel’s set, which is lovely, and the people in New Ross really got involved and they were a real part of the filmmaking process. We can’t wait to show it to them.”
Recently Murphy’s youngest son, Aran, dipped his toe into the world of movies having been cast in Klara and The Sun, which is directed by Taika Waititi and stars Jenna Ortega. However, a laughing Murphy was keen to share that he didn’t put a good word or pull any strings.
“He has a little part in a film at the moment, so he’s happy out. And he got it all on his own terms, I should point out!
“… He’s only young, he’s trying it out, and he’s having a great time, so I just say as long as he’s enjoying himself, let him off.”
And so, as Murphy is odds on favourite to win one of the most coveted and prestigious acting awards this Sunday, just one question remains… is he now the most famous Corkman, more famous than Graham Norton or Roy Keane?
“I mean, to me, no one will be more famous than Roy Keane coming out of Cork! I’m a big Roy Keane fan, so he’s always number one for me. Sorry, Graham!”
Read more:
Oscars: the nominees – and winners – on Sunday night
Oscars 2024: Everything you need to know
Cillian Murphy: from Disco Pigs to possible Oscar glory
Element Pictures’s Ed Guiney: ‘We’re prospectors mining for gold’
