'Proud Irishman' Cillian Murphy Rejoices At BAFTA Triumph

Following his victory at the BAFTA Film awards last night, Cillian Murphy described himself as a "really proud Irishman".

The Cork native scooped up the award for Best Actor at the award's ceremony, and in the process, became the first Irish born actor to do so.

While backstage at the Royal Festival Hall, Cillian Murphy said, "I'm a really, really proud Irishman. I have to say that, of course. And it means a lot to me to be Irish". 

He also added, "I don't know what else to say. Should I sing a rebel song?". 

On the win itself, Murphy also remarked, "It's a little overwhelming… it's kind of mind-blowing. I'm thrilled and a little shocked". 

"great reflection"

Elsewhere, Cillian Murphy who won the top prize of Best Actor for his role in the Christopher Nolan directed Oppenheimer, has said that people have even stopped him in the street, to say that they have watched the film six or seven times.

"I think it's (the film) a great reflection on the state of cinema nowadays. You know that this is a very complex, very challenging three-hour R-rated movie about a physicist, about a very kind of dark period in our history, and people came to see it in huge numbers", he revealed.

"People would meet me on the street and say that they've seen the film five, six, seven times, and boys and girls, men and women, young and old, and that's kind of staggering and again very humbling".

He added, "But it's, like I said, a great reflection on the state of cinema and I think it's been a brilliant year for cinema".