Cillian Murphy earned his first Academy Award for his portrayal in "Oppenheimer" of the physicist who led the United States' development of the atomic bomb during World War Two.

The win caps a successful awards season for the 47-year-old Irish actor, who also picked up a Golden Globe, a BAFTA and a Screen Actors Guild award for his performance. It was his first Oscar nomination.

"I'm a very, very proud Irish man standing here tonight," said the actor. He also noted that we "for better or worse, we are living in Oppenheimer's world".

Photo: Reuters

Murphy, who lives in Ireland and keeps a low profile in Hollywood, had his biggest role to date playing a tortured, morally ambiguous Oppenheimer. He is also known for leading roles in films including "28 Days Later" and crime show "Peaky Blinders," and for appearances in other Christopher Nolan projects, including the "Dark Knight" Batman trilogy and "Inception."

For a story underpinned by complex science, Murphy said in July that he "didn't really waste too much time on the physics," to prepare for the role, instead honing in on "the humanity and the emotion, and the complexity and the morality of the character."

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