Monday’s Top Stories: Great Oscars night for the Irish as Cillian Murphy wins best actor; questions over Kate Middleton picture

Oscars 2024: Cillian Murphy wins best actor award

Cillian Murphy has been named best actor at the 96th Academy Awards for his performance as the eponymous father of the atomic bomb in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. He becomes, after Daniel Day-Lewis, the second Irish citizen to win that award for lead performance.

Poor Things, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and produced by Dublin’s Element Pictures, converted four of its 11 nominations into wins, including a second best actress Oscar for lead Emma Stone. Oppenheimer, as expected, had a good night at a ceremony that delivered few enormous surprises. The huge biopic topped the nomination table with seven wins including best picture and, for Nolan, best director.

“Chris Nolan and Emma Thomas – it’s been the wildest, most exhilarating, most creatively satisfying journey you’ve taken me on over the last 20 years. I owe you more than I can say,” Murphy said to his director and producer from the stage.

“Yvonne McGuinness, my partner in life and art. My two boys, Malachy and Aran, who are sitting up there, I love you so much. I am a very proud Irishman standing here tonight. We made a film about the man who created the atomic bomb, and for better or for worse, we’re all living in Oppenheimer’s world – so I’d really like to dedicate this to the peacemakers everywhere. Go raibh maith agat.”

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Oscars Highlights

• Oscars 2024: the complete list of winners: Here are all the winners of the 96th Academy Awards - and all the nominees
• Oscars 2024 as it happened: Cillian Murphy makes history to win best actor award: Oppenheimer wins seven awards including best director and best film. Poor Things, produced by Dublin film company Element Pictures, takes home four statuettes including best actress for Emma Stone.
• Ranked: The 15 greatest Irish moments at the Oscars: From Daniel Day-Lewis and Brenda Fricker winning acting awards for My Left Foot to the Academy singing Happy Birthday to James Martin in 2023.

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News from around the World

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Sports

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