Oppenheimer continues awards season sweep as film dominates at SAG Awards

By Amy Watson
Published 25th Feb 2024, 15:55 BST
Updated 25th Feb 2024, 15:56 BST
Cillian Murphy wins best actor as Christopher Nolan biopic on ‘father of the atomic bomb’ picks up more accolades

Irish star Cillian Murphy picked up the best actor gong for his role in Oppenheimer during the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, while the film won best cast in a motion picture.

Christopher Nolan's biopic, in which Murphy plays theoretical physicist J Robert Oppenheimer - described as the father of the atomic bomb - continued its awards season success during the 30th SAG Awards ceremony.

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The event, held at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles, follows the longest strike in Sag-Aftra history and serves as a key Academy Award indicator ahead of the ceremony next month.

For his role in “Oppenheimer,” Cillian Murphy has so far earned four awards; a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama, the SAG Award for Best Actor and Best Ensemble Cast and the BAFTA Film Award for Best Actor. His win at the British event marked the first time an Irish-born actor has ever won the Best Actor award. (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)For his role in “Oppenheimer,” Cillian Murphy has so far earned four awards; a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama, the SAG Award for Best Actor and Best Ensemble Cast and the BAFTA Film Award for Best Actor. His win at the British event marked the first time an Irish-born actor has ever won the Best Actor award. (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
For his role in “Oppenheimer,” Cillian Murphy has so far earned four awards; a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama, the SAG Award for Best Actor and Best Ensemble Cast and the BAFTA Film Award for Best Actor. His win at the British event marked the first time an Irish-born actor has ever won the Best Actor award. (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)

"Twenty-eight years ago when I was trying to become an actor, I was a failed musician and I felt extremely like an interloper, but now looking out at you guys here today, I know I am part of something truly wonderful, so thank you," Murphy said.

He also secured the top acting prize at the Bafta awards following his success at the Golden Globes.

Oppenheimer co-star Robert Downey Jr appeared to acknowledge his Oscar front-runner status when picking up the prize for best supporting actor for his role as Lewis Strauss, head of the Atomic Energy Commission, during the ceremony.

He said: "Why me, why now, why do things seem to be going my way?"

The film was also presented with the award for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture which Sir Kenneth Branagh, who plays physicist Niels Bohr in the film, described as a "full circle moment" following the actors' strikes.

"Thank you Sag-Aftra, thank you for fighting for us," he said. "Thank you for every Sag-Aftra member whose support and whose sacrifice allows us to be standing here, better than we were before.

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"When we were all last together, it was at the premiere of this film on July 14 when the strike was just about to begin, led by our fearless leader, the great Cillian Murphy.

"We went from the red carpet and we didn't see the film that night. We happily went in the direction of solidarity with your good selves. So this is a full circle moment for us."

Lily Gladstone was named best actress for her role as Mollie Burkhart in Martin Scorsese's Killers Of The Flower Moon, while Da'Vine Joy Randolph picked up the prize for best supporting actress for her role as Mary Lamb in The Holdovers.

"I am beyond humbled and I am so incredibly grateful to be considered among you," Randolph said of her fellow nominees Emily Blunt, Penelope Cruz, Jodie Foster and Danielle Brooks.

It was a successful night for TV comedy-drama The Bear, the story of a star chef who returns to Chicago to run the family business after the death of his brother.

Stars Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri were presented with the awards for best actor and actress in a comedy series respectively, while the series won best ensemble in a comedy series.

While British star Naomi Watts introduced the in memoriam segment of the show, which honoured actors including Harry Potter star Sir Michael Gambon and Friends actor Matthew Perry.