Cillian is a proud Corkman (despite what Wossy says)
‘IT’S a bit like Italia ’90, isn’t it?’ Cillian Murphy said to another Irish Oscar winner at the Academy Awards.
Ed Guiney, of Dublin’s Element Pictures and one of the producers of four-time winner the film Poor Things starring Emma Stone, was speaking from one of the post-Oscars parties.
He told RTÉ: ‘I was talking to him earlier – it was earlier in the evening and just wishing him well .... He said to me, “It’s a bit like Italia ’90, isn’t it?” And I said, “Yes it is.”
‘He was just saying it was so nice, the vibes from Ireland – and we can all really feel them here.
‘People are so wholehearted and so supportive and positive about what’s going on here.
‘So we’re all incredibly proud, so proud of him. He’s incredible.’
At home, after Cillian, 47, became the first Irish born winner of the best male actor for Oppenheimer, there were celebrations in his native Cork.
The principal of Cillian’s old secondary school said that he ‘absolutely’ expects students to be inspired by the Oscar win.
David Barry said: ‘Presentation Brothers College are delighted for Cillian and his family on his success in winning the Oscar. We’re so proud to have one of our past pupils.’
Cillian may not have been too delighted to hear that he is a Brit rather than a proud Corkman.
In his acceptance speech he said: ‘I am a very proud Irishman standing here tonight.’ TV Presenter Jonathan Ross must not have heard, as he repeatedly referred to Cillian as a ‘British star’.
One viewer tweeted: ‘Took 3 mins for Jonathan Ross on ITV to claim Cillian’s win as ‘our’ win like he literally got on stage and pointed out he was Irish?’
Speaking in the press room after picking up his statuette, Cillian told journalists: ‘I’m in a little bit of a daze, I’m very overwhelmed. I’m very humbled. I’m very grateful and you know, very proud to be Irish standing here today. It’s really really meaningful to me. I don’t know if I said this in my speech, because I can’t remember what I said.’
Meanwhile, when asked if he is ‘content’ about being remembered for his role as atomic bomb scientist J Robert Oppenheimer in the movie, Cillian replied: ‘Very content. I mean, you got to move forward, but this has been a huge, huge moment for me.
‘The movie is so special to me, and myself and Chris Nolan have such a special relationship.
‘And I just feel very privileged to be able to continue to work with him and I’m very proud that this is a film that is provocative, and that asks questions, and is challenging, but yet so many people went to see it, so I’m really really proud of it.’
Acknowledging that ‘we are all living in Oppenheimer’s world now’, he added: ‘I would like to dedicate this to the peacemakers of the world.’
Cillian also ended his speech with: ‘Go raibh maith agaibh.’
‘Can’t remember what I said’