Cillian Murphy's Intense Commitment: A Source of Sanity on Set

Matt Damon credits Cillian Murphy for keeping his sanity during the filming of "Oppenheimer."

[{"selector":"#anim-dafbed23-3e6e-4153-a323-078978bb9554 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(1.0658141036401503e-14%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7d5ebfef-8843-45ee-bfc1-6125946c42cf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Cillian Murphy plays scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer in the Christopher Nolan period piece epic.

[{"selector":"#anim-65a16b24-9c68-45ae-a73d-15091f6b5ddf [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-49e3182c-8bf4-4388-be3d-92a9baa64c4c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Murphy's dedication to the role was intense, leaving his brain "too full" to join the cast for dinners.

[{"selector":"#anim-142e074c-cb36-4ce5-b8c2-69818a106a21 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.0658141036401503e-14%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-74ca3e45-0504-42a6-8410-3a10fb6f9550","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Damon describes Murphy's performance as a "marathon" masterclass in acting.

[{"selector":"#anim-0ccdc7d7-111f-4851-a509-011bbe386b32 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, -0.00003398058316150809%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f664f551-7165-4fa6-9667-9de9ef8ab6de","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Emily Blunt, another co-star, acknowledges the monumental weight Murphy had to shoulder.

[{"selector":"#anim-8e6a1c5f-272b-49c7-9ef9-18af43c499e5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0e2652c8-88da-4b7d-b12c-b617ae2d153e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Murphy felt overwhelmed by the responsibility of such a significant role.

[{"selector":"#anim-cdbe5543-b3d0-4bcd-aff4-494881cdcab0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b9361159-571b-4374-9dcf-fde7a8754c5f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Murphy had a long-standing collaboration with Christopher Nolan, spanning 20 years and various films.

[{"selector":"#anim-92d5d607-5321-4c13-bd67-ef0eaafc7ec0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00b72c80-fc93-4370-aa9b-31ccd463af29","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The actor was eager to lead a Nolan film and considered it the right time to take on a bigger responsibility.

[{"selector":"#anim-ad923be7-5492-497f-a9e0-08b211e521c8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, -6.980840332460048e-7%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4f923883-ec18-4404-be6d-395b77a07dd6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Murphy's commitment to working with Nolan was unwavering, regardless of the size of his role.

[{"selector":"#anim-6c09f1c0-db09-4962-ad10-02216c50ccfb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-252b0edf-b20f-4641-bd40-5a8312feb7fe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Murphy's desire to play a lead role for Nolan was a secret ambition.

[{"selector":"#anim-817fc281-51fa-4269-b8bb-2ec7735ac20a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9f22b555-5951-4cd0-a938-dbd1e4fbb301","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Murphy's portrayal of Oppenheimer in "Oppenheimer" fulfilled his deep-seated wish.