Cork native Cillian Murphy made history on Sunday night becoming the first Irish-born actor to claim BEST ACTOR at the Oscars for his career-defining role in OPPENHEIMER. As predicted, the film dominated proceedings, winning best picture, best director for Christopher Nolan, and best supporting actor for Robert Downey Jr. Murphy is the third Irish actor to win the best actor Oscar, following Daniel Day-Lewis, who was born in London but holds Irish citizenship, and Barry Fitzgerald who won in 1945. Murphy thanked Nolan and Emma Thomas, his producer, as well as his team and his family. He ended his speech by saying he was a “very very proud Irishman”.