Frequent Cillian Murphy collaborator Stephen Rea reveals why ‘Oppenheimer’ star is so “special”

Irish actor Stephen Rea has heaped praise on Cillian Murphy, describing the Oppenheimer star as “adorable” and “very special”.

Rea, who was Oscar-nominated for his performance in 1992’s The Crying Games, has collaborated with Murphy on a number of projects over the years, including Breakfast On Pluto and Ballyturk.

“He is a really adorable guy,” Rea told Irish news channel RTE. “Of course, he had something very special, with tremendous focus, and he’s a good laugh; he is a good guy to work with.

“He is a really pleasant person, and it’s nice to go out with him for drinks and what have you. His attitude toward acting is extremely reassuring and very good; he understands every little detail of it, and it comes out truthfully.”

Murphy won the Best Actor award at this years Oscars for his leading performance in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer – a biopic about the “Father of the Atomic Bomb” Robert J. Oppenheimer.

The film itself also won Best Picture, while Nolan picked up the Best Director award. Robert Downey Jr. was another major winner on the night, claiming the prize of Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Lewis Strauss, the American government official who opposed Oppenheimer. In total, the film won seven Oscars at the 2024 ceremony.

In other news, Murphy recently said he would be open to returning to the role of Tommy Shelby in a Peaky Blinders film.

According to the Irish Star, Murphy has said that he would be keen to reprise the role, which he played for a decade over six seasons of the award-winning show.

“I have always said that if Knight delivers a script that I know he can deliver, because he is such a phenomenal writer, I’ll be there,” shared the 47-year-old.

“If we want to watch 50-year-old Tommy Shelby, I will be there. Let’s do it.”

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