Last year, Cillian Murphy took over the world with his portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. While it was the storytelling that had everyone hooked, the talented performance of the 47-year-old ended up stealing the show. However, with the film depicting real-life events, how accurate was the casting of the Peaky Blinders star in the soon-to-be Oscar-winning biographical drama?

As the world eagerly anticipates the 96th annual Academy Awards to seal the fate of the blockbuster film, let us see how Murphy’s looks and mannerisms match up to the father of the atomic bomb.

The similarities between Cillian Murphy and J. Robert Oppenheimer

Most Hollywood stars are known to be masters of disguise. With them having to tweak and change their looks and physiques for certain roles, celebrities have stunned their fans with some extreme changes. Something similar happened when Cillian Murphy took up the role of J. Robert Oppenheimer. Audiences may have been used to seeing the actor as Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders. However, his preparation for the film had him looking skinnier, like the theoretical physicist himself.

It was later revealed that a diet had helped the 47-year-old shed the weight. Murphy also shared that the barely eating had left him sort of jittery. However, he admitted that it had added to his understanding of Oppenheimer and how he worked. Apart from the rapid weight loss, the actor’s striking blue eyes were also a common feature that the two shared.

The casting for the role was so perfect that it might just end up earning the extremely talented father of two his first-ever Academy Award.

Cillian Murphy’s journey to Oscar success

Cillian Murphy might be one of the world’s favorite stars now. However, that was not always the case. The actor began his career back in 1996 in Enda Walsh’s play, Disco Pigs, but it was not until 2013 that he actually made it. That was when he took over the world with the British drama Peaky Blinders. With the series coming to an end after 6 stunning seasons, the 47-year-old dived into the biggest project of his career, Oppenheimer.

From sparking intellectual debates to sweeping every award show like the BAFTAs, the film managed to do it all. It even earned Murphy his first-ever Oscar nomination for Best Actor. So far, it looks like the actor might have made his mark based on how well the project has been doing in the award circuit. However, with only a day left to go before the Academy Awards, the world will have their answer soon.

What similarities do you see between Cillian Murphy and J. Robert Oppenheimer? Let us know in the comments below.