The Academy Award voters have a penchant for actors who bring historical figures to life, much like the previous year’s winner for best actor. Cillian Murphy snagged the prestigious Oscar for his portrayal of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, famously known as the “father of the atomic bomb,” in the movie “Oppenheimer.” The accomplished Irish actor, recognized for his roles in “Inception” and “Dunkirk,” captivated audiences with his depiction of the iconic figure.
“Oppenheimer” emerged as the top contender at the 96th Academy Awards on March 10, 2024, securing a total of seven awards, including best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan), supporting actor (Robert Downey Jr.), film editing, score, and cinematography. Upon receiving the award, Murphy, expressing his pride as an Irishman, dedicated the honor to peacemakers, underscoring the impact of Oppenheimer’s legacy on the world.
Among last year’s other nominees were Bradley Cooper as composer Leonard Bernstein in “Maestro,” Colman Domingo as civil rights leader Bayard Rustin in “Rustin,” Paul Giamatti as a history teacher in “The Holdovers,” and Jeffrey Wright as a disillusioned author in “American Fiction.”
In a nod to past male actor victors, embodying a historical persona hasn’t consistently guaranteed a win over the past five years. Preceding Murphy’s triumph, Brendan Fraser clinched the 2023 Oscar for his role as a 600-pound teacher in “The Whale,” surpassing competitors like Austin Butler as the King of Rock and Roll in “Elvis.”
The best actor category for the 2025 Oscars features notable nominees like Adrien Brody in “The Brutalist,” Timothée Chalamet in “A Complete Unknown,” Colman Domingo in “Sing Sing,” Ralph Fiennes in “Conclave,” and Sebastian Stan in “The Apprentice.” Notably, Chalamet portrayed Bob Dylan, while Domingo reprised his role as John “Divine G” Whitfield and Stan embodied a pre-presidential Donald Trump.
Brody, a previous best actor Oscar laureate for “The Pianist,” and Fiennes, a two-time nominee, bring their formidable talent to this year’s competitive field. Stan, a first-time nominee, takes on a challenging role in “The Apprentice,” showcasing his versatility on the big screen.
The Oscars have seen a diverse array of best actor winners this century, with luminaries such as Adrien Brody, Russell Crowe, and Denzel Washington leaving an indelible mark in the realm of cinema.
The list of recent winners for the Best Actor Oscar includes:2001: Russell Crowe (“Gladiator”)2002: Denzel Washington (“Training Day”)2003: Adrien Brody (“The Pianist”)2004: Sean Penn (“Mystic River”)2005: Jamie Foxx (“Ray”)2006: Philip Seymour Hoffman (“Capote”)2007: Forest Whitaker (“The Last King of Scotland”)2008: Daniel Day-Lewis (“There Will Be Blood”)2009: Sean Penn (“Milk”)2010: Jeff Bridges (“Crazy Heart”)2011: Colin Firth (“The King’s Speech”)2012: Jean Dujardin (“The Artist”)2013: Daniel Day-Lewis (“Lincoln”)2014: Matthew McConaughey (“Dallas Buyers Club”)2015: Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything”)2016: Leonardo DiCaprio (“The Revenant”)2017: Casey Affleck (“Manchester by the Sea”)2018: Gary Oldman (“Darkest Hour”)2019: Rami Malek (“Bohemian Rhapsody”)2020: Joaquin Phoenix (“Joker”)2021: Anthony Hopkins (“The Father”)2022: Will Smith (“King Richard”)2023: Brendan Fraser (“The Whale”)2024: Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”). For more updates, you can follow Brian Truitt on Threads, Bluesky, and X: mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider. Stay informed about trending topics by signing up for our newsletter. This article was first published on USA TODAY.
