The Definitive List: Who Won The Oscar For Best Actor At The 96th Academy Awards?

As of December 18, 2025, the most recent winner of the Academy Award for Best Actor is Cillian Murphy, who took home the coveted golden statue for his transformative lead performance in Christopher Nolan’s epic biopic, Oppenheimer. The win cemented a career-defining moment for the Irish actor, who had been a perennial favorite throughout the 2024 awards season, collecting a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for the same role.

The 96th Academy Awards, held earlier in 2024, saw one of the most compelling races in the Best Actor category in recent memory, with a field of veteran performers delivering career-best work. Murphy's victory was a highlight of the night, which saw *Oppenheimer* dominate the major categories, securing Best Picture and Best Director for Christopher Nolan.

Cillian Murphy: A Profile of the Oscar-Winning Irish Chameleon

Cillian Murphy's victory was a culmination of decades of dedicated work in both independent cinema and major blockbusters, establishing him as one of the most versatile actors of his generation. His win made him the first Irish-born actor to ever win the Best Actor Academy Award.

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Biography & Key Profile Facts

• Full Name: Cillian Murphy
• Date of Birth: May 25, 1976
• Place of Birth: Douglas, Cork, Ireland
• Nationality: Irish
• Spouse: Yvonne McGuinness (m. 2004)
• Children: Two sons
• Breakthrough Film: *28 Days Later* (2002)
• Signature TV Role: Thomas Shelby in *Peaky Blinders* (2013–2022)
• Key Collaborator: Christopher Nolan (Six films, including *The Dark Knight Trilogy*, *Inception*, *Dunkirk*, and *Oppenheimer*).

Murphy initially pursued a career in music, playing guitar and singing in a band called 'The Sons of Mr. Greengenes,' before transitioning to acting in the late 1990s. His early stage work, particularly in the play *Disco Pigs*, set the stage for a film career defined by intense, often unsettling, and deeply psychological roles. His long-standing partnership with director Christopher Nolan has been instrumental to his global recognition, frequently casting him in complex supporting and eventually, a leading role.

The 96th Academy Awards: The Best Actor Race and Nominees

The competition for the 2024 Best Actor Oscar was particularly fierce, featuring a mix of Hollywood veterans and critically acclaimed independent film stars. Cillian Murphy's win for portraying the titular physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer came after a sweep of precursor awards, solidifying his status as the frontrunner.

Complete List of Best Actor Nominees (96th Oscars, 2024)

The five actors nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor at the 96th Oscars were:

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• Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer (WINNER)
• Bradley Cooper in Maestro
• Colman Domingo in Rustin
• Paul Giamatti in The Holdovers
• Jeffrey Wright in American Fiction

Each performance represented a masterclass in acting, ranging from historical figures to deeply relatable, flawed characters. Bradley Cooper's transformation into composer Leonard Bernstein in *Maestro* was widely praised, while Paul Giamatti's portrayal of a curmudgeonly prep school teacher in *The Holdovers* earned him his first major awards-season attention in decades. Colman Domingo’s powerful performance as civil rights activist Bayard Rustin and Jeffrey Wright’s complex role in *American Fiction* rounded out the exceptionally strong field, adding significant topical authority to the category.

The 'Oppenheimer' Performance: Why Cillian Murphy Won

Cillian Murphy's portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist known as the "father of the atomic bomb," was a performance built on quiet intensity and profound internal conflict. The role demanded a physical transformation, with Murphy adopting a gaunt appearance and an unnerving, focused gaze to capture the scientist's brilliant yet tormented psyche.

The performance was praised for its subtlety, conveying the immense moral and ethical weight Oppenheimer carried as he grappled with the devastating consequences of the technology he helped create. Critics noted that Murphy didn't just play a historical figure; he embodied the anxiety, ambition, and ultimate regret of a man who changed the world forever. This complex exploration of genius and guilt resonated powerfully with Academy voters.

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Highlights from the Acceptance Speech

In his emotional acceptance speech, Murphy acknowledged his Irish roots and the profound theme of the film. He thanked the film's director, Christopher Nolan, and producer, Emma Thomas, calling their collaboration "the wildest, most exhilarating, most creatively satisfying journey."

He dedicated a significant part of his speech to the film's central message, stating, "We made a film about the man who created the atomic bomb, and for better or worse, we're all living in Oppenheimer’s world." He then offered a poignant wish for peace, saying, "I want to dedicate this to the peacemakers everywhere."

Legacy and Future Career Trajectory

Winning the Best Actor Oscar has irrevocably changed Cillian Murphy's standing in the film industry, moving him from a highly respected character actor to a certified leading man and Oscar winner. The victory is expected to open up a new phase of his career, likely featuring more high-profile, complex roles that demand his unique brand of understated intensity.

His success is a testament to the power of long-term artistic collaboration and the rewards of choosing challenging, non-commercial projects alongside mainstream work. For fans of his work in *Peaky Blinders* and *28 Days Later*, the Oscar serves as a final, definitive recognition of his talent, confirming his place among the elite actors in cinema history. He joins a distinguished list of Best Actor winners whose performances have left an indelible mark on cinematic storytelling.