Cillian Murphy has been named Best Actor at the BAFTA Film Awards in London for his work on Oppenheimer while Poor Things, produced by the Dublin-based Element Pictures, has won five awards.
Oh boy! Cillian Murphy collects his Leading Actor BAFTA for Oppenheimer 🙌 #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/M5pjKhtrqZ
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 18, 2024
The Cork star becomes the first Irish-born performer to win the film BAFTA for Best Actor. Saltburn star Barry Keoghan had also been nominated in the Best Actor category.
Accepting the award at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday night, Murphy said: "Oh boy, holy moly, thank you very, very much, BAFTA."
He paid tribute to "the most dynamic, kindest producer-director partnership in Hollywood: Chris Nolan and Emma Thomas, thank you for seeing something in me that I probably didn't see in myself".
Murphy said to director Nolan: "Thanks for always pushing me and demanding excellence because that is what you deliver time and time again."
He also acknowledged his "fellow nominees and my Oppenhomies", continuing: "I know it's a cliché to say, but I'm in awe of you."
Murphy said J Robert Oppenheimer, known as the father of the atomic bomb, was a "colossally knotty character", adding: "We have a space to debate and interrogate and investigate that complexity and it's a privilege to be a part of this community with you all."
He concluded: "And finally, to Yvonne, Malachy and Aran, you're my best friends and I love you so much."
Oppenheimer was the biggest winner on the night with seven wins, among them Best Picture and Best Director for Christopher Nolan.
Poor Things, made by the Dublin-based Element Pictures, and Earth Mama, which includes Irish filmmakers Shirley O'Connor and Medb Riordan as producers, were also among the winners.
Emma Stone was named Best Actress for her work on Poor Things - one of five wins for the dark fantasy. Poor Things also won for Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup & Hair and Special Visual Effects. The film had received 11 nominations.
Your Leading Actress winner is Emma Stone! #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/Gyk48SQXrZ
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 18, 2024
All of Us Strangers' Paul Mescal lost out in the Best Supporting Actor category to the favourite, Oppenheimer's Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. gives a whistle stop tour of his life as he accepts his Supporting Actor BAFTA! #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/jvsyuPnwxB
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 18, 2024
Another favourite, The Holdovers' Da'Vine Joy Randolph, won Best Supporting Actress.
The wonderful Da'Vine Joy Randolph gets emotional as she picks up her Supporting Actress BAFTA 🩷 #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/Px7LuQJojq
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 18, 2024
The BAFTA Fellowship, the highest honour of the British film academy, was presented to actress Samantha Morton, who was taken into care as a baby and spent time in and out of care and foster homes growing up.
A gorgeous speech from Samantha Morton who is awarded the BAFTA Fellowship 👏 #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/Q4eyfhmNjK
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 18, 2024
She was visibly emotional as she collected her prize, which she dedicated to children in care, adding: "Film changed my life, it transformed me and it led me here today."
The winners:
Best Film
Oppenheimer - Christopher Nolan, Charles Roven, Emma Thomas
Leading Actress
Emma Stone - Poor Things
Leading Actor
Cillian Murphy - Oppenheimer
EE Rising Star Award (voted for by the public)
Mia McKenna-Bruce
Director
Oppenheimer - Christopher Nolan
Make Up & Hair
Poor Things - Nadia Stacey, Mark Coulier, Josh Weston
Costume Design
Poor Things - Holly Waddington
Outstanding British Film
The Zone of Interest - Jonathan Glazer, James Wilson
British Short Animation
Crab Day - Ross Stringer, Bartosz Stanislawek, Aleksandra Sykulak
British Short Film
Jellyfish and Lobster - Yasmin Afifi, Elizabeth Rufai
Casting
The Holdovers - Susan Shopmaker
Editing
Oppenheimer - Jennifer Lame
Production Design
Poor Things - Shona Heath, James Price, Zsuzsa Mihalek
Sound
The Zone of Interest - Johnnie Burn, Tarn Willers
Original Score
Oppenheimer - Ludwig Göransson
Documentary
20 Days in Mariupol - Mstyslav Chernov, Raney Aronson Rath, Michelle Mizner
Adapted Screenplay
American Fiction - Cord Jefferson
Supporting Actress
Da'Vine Joy Randolph - The Holdovers
Supporting Actor
Robert Downey Jr - Oppenheimer
Cinematography
Oppenheimer - Hoyte van Hoytema
Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer
Earth Mama - Savanah Leaf (Writer, Director, Producer), Shirley O'Connor (Producer), Medb Riordan (Producer)
Film Not in the English Language
The Zone of Interest - Jonathan Glazer, James Wilson
Special Visual Effects
Poor Things - Tim Barter, Simon Hughes, Dean Koonjul, Jane Paton
Animated Film
The Boy and the Heron - Hayao Miyazaki, Toshio Suzuki
Original Screenplay
Anatomy of a Fall - Justine Triet, Arthur Harari
Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award
June Givanni
Huge congratulations to June Givanni, who is presented with the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award. ✨ #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/0BqncBcEE5
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 18, 2024
BAFTA Fellowship
Samantha Morton
Huge congratulations to the wonderful Samantha Morton, who receives the BAFTA Fellowship. 👏 #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/NfPZgK7Y2j
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 18, 2024
Additional Reporting: Press Association
