The cast of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer has received immense praise for their performance in the film, notably Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. The film, which is currently leading the 2024 Oscars with 13 nominations, however, turned out to be especially challenging for Murphy, who only had six months to prepare for the role after he received a surprise call from the filmmaker to star in the biographical thriller.
His dedication and transformation for the role not only amazed his co-star Downey Jr. but also prompted his concern for the Peaky Blinders star, who raised his worries to the filmmaker, highlighting the immense effort Murphy was putting into his performance.
Cillian Murphy’s Transformation For Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer
Reflecting on Cillian Murphy’s preparation for his role as J. Robert Oppenheimer, in an interview with Deadline, Christopher Nolan highlighted that Oppenheimer presented a significant change and challenge for Murphy after playing the same character for a prolonged period in Peaky Blinders.
He described it as an “out of the hot tub and into the cold plunge” moment for the actor. To prepare for the lead role in the film, Murphy immersed himself in the studying material, followed an intense diet to lose weight, and learned the physicist’s mannerisms and presence.
Emily Blunt has even stated that Murphy “could only eat, like, an almond every day” before adding, “He was so emaciated.” Cillian Murphy has also shared that he lost quite a bit of weight for the film, and explained the process as unhealthy, saying, “You become competitive with yourself a little bit, which is not healthy. I don’t advise it.”
Although Nolan appreciated the efforts the Oscar-nominated actor put into his role, in the ensemble cast of the film, he almost took him for granted. This led Robert Downey Jr., who played the role of Lewis Strauss in the film, to highlight the immense effort Murphy was putting into the film.
Robert Downey Jr. Grew Concerned About His Oppenheimer Co-Star
While Cillian Murphy has been one of the frequent collaborators of Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer marked the first time, Robert Downey Jr. worked with both of them. Even the Iron Man star was deeply astonished by his co-star’s dedication to his craft.
During his conversation with Deadline, Christopher Nolan shared that he was able to take Cillian Murphy for granted as he has worked with the actor numerous times. However, it was Robert Downey Jr. who brought Nolan’s attention to the immense effort Murphy had invested in his role.
Nolan recalled how Robert Downey Jr. highlighted the extreme lengths Cillian Murphy had gone to for the 2023 film, as he expressed concern for his co-star, stating, “Do you understand how hard this guy is working for you?” Nolan recalled,
“For me, particularly with such a big cast, Cillian was the element I was able to completely take for granted—to the point where on Downey’s last day, he came up to me and said, ‘Do you understand how hard this guy is working for you?’ It was towards the end of the shoot. He was like, ‘He’s exhausted.’”
Nolan admitted that he had underestimated Murphy’s dedication, attributing it to his confidence in the actor. However, during the editing process, he gained a newfound appreciation for Murphy’s performance, recognizing its true magnitude. Nolan, Murphy, and Downey Jr. have earned Oscar nominations for Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor, respectively for the 2023 film.
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