Cillian Murphy and Christopher Nolan have a monumental history. One that includes gems like The Dark Knight trilogy, Dunkirk, and Inception. And it was in 2022 that the director announced a herculean project surrounding the life of the “father of the atomic bomb” with Murphy at the reins alongside notable actors such as Florence Pugh, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Jack Quaid, and Rami Malek. The wait for this movie has been akin to that of a tickling bomb for fans. However, the BAFTA TV Awards nominations have brought in some good news for fans.

After the award season for movies, it is now time for the extraordinary series to receive their due recognition. The BAFTA TV Awards nominations have roped in a surprise by nominating Cillian Murphy for the first time since the premiere of Peaky Blinders. And fan reactions are ranging from a loss of words to the classic Cillian Murphy poker face meme.

Fans shout ‘Finally!’ as Cillian Murphy gets a BAFTA nomination for Peaky Blinders

Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy are notorious for excelling in their art. However, both of them do not have an Academy award to their name. To make sure that pain is nothing short of royal, ever since its release in 2013, Cillian Murphy never received a BAFTA, Emmy, or Golden Globe nomination despite embodying Thomas Shelby down to the last morsel. However, it would be cinematically criminal to not recognize his brilliant performance in the finale of Peaky Blinders. And, the BAFTA TV nominations made no mistake when they nominated him in the ‘Leading Actor’ category.

The other nominees in the category include Ben Whishaw in This is Going to Hurt, Chaske Spencer in The English, Gary Oldman in Slow Horses, Martin Freeman in The Responder, and Taron Egerton in Black Bird.

While most actors in this category and their fans are familiar with award show nominations, for Cillian Murphy fans, this is monumental. And much like Murphy, they are not batting an eye and stating that this should have happened a long time ago.

Why has the Peaky Blinders actor never won a BAFTA?

The British drama series has amassed a cult-like following and continues to be a chart-topper for Netflix in many countries. Its lead actor, especially, and his portrayal of Thomas Shelby, has seeped into pop culture. From memes to fan edits, Murphy and Shelby are a favorite. Despite the popularity, the actor is yet to be awarded a BAFTA.

This might have to do with the fact that Cillian Murphy acts with his body. On paper, it is the characters around him that do most of the talking while he makes the final decisions. Murphy morphs into the perfect vessel for Thomas Shelby to speak a thousand words without uttering anything. Although fans still have a bone to pick with the award shows for supposedly robbing the actor for numerous years.

Why do you think Cillian Murphy never received a nomination until now? Let us know in the comments below.