Matt Damon and Cillian Murphy in Berlin on Feb. 15, 2024.Photo:Franziska Krug/Getty
Franziska Krug/Getty
WhenCillian Murphyis in on a project, he’sallin.
TheOppenheimeractor, 47, recently sat down with60 Minuteshost Scott Pelley to discuss filmingChristopher Nolan’s biopic about the creation of the atomic bomb and what his dynamic was like with his bevy of A-list costars within the framework of his role.
“Yeah, I mean, I’ve always been like that, I think,” Murphy responded, laughing. “But it’s because, to me, you have the time on set, which is short enough time — you have 10 hours, maybe. And then the other part, if you’ve got a significant part, you’re having to keep your lines fresh.”
“And then the other big thing for me is sleeping. I love sleeping and I need sleep,” quipped the Best ActorAcademy Awardnominee.
Despite his approach to roles, Murphy said he has “had lots of lovely dinners with” Damon, 53, “since the movie’s finished and we’ve been out promoting it and stuff.”
“At the time, yeah, you just don’t have the room … in your head, and you want as much sleep as possible,” the28 Days Lateractor added.
Murphy and Damon star inOppenheimeralongsideEmily Blunt,Robert Downey Jr.,Florence Pughand more. The movie leads the pack with13 nominations at this year’s Oscars, including nods for Best Director for Nolan, 53, and Best Picture.
From L: Kenneth Branagh, Rami Malek, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Cillian Murphy, Christopher Nolan, Robert Downey Jr. and Josh Hartnett at the U.K. premiere ofOppenheimerin London on July 13, 2023.Gareth Cattermole/Getty
Gareth Cattermole/Getty
Like many who have seenOppenheimer, Downey, 58, was floored with Murphy’s transformative performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer, the American physicist wholed the U.S. effort to create an atomic bombduringWorld War II.
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“He knew it was going to be a behemoth ask when Chris called him. But I think he also had the humility that is required to survive playing a role like this,” he said.
Downey added, “We’d be like, ‘Hey, we got a three-day weekend. Maybe we’ll go antiquing in Santa Fe. What are you going to do?’ ‘Oh, I have to learn 30,000 words of Dutch. Have a nice time.’ But that’s the nature of the ask.”
source: people.com
