Is Cillian Murphy multilingual? Robert Downey Jr praises 'Oppenheimer' co-star for his commitment to 'behemoth' role

Rober Downey Jr heaped praise on Cillian Murphy for his performance as J Robert Oppenheimer in 'Oppenheimer'

UPDATED JUL 25, 2023

Robert Downey Jr praised Cillian Murphy's performance in 'Oppenheimer' (Lia Toby/Getty Images for Universal Pictures)

DOUGLAS, IRELAND: After the official box office numbers for 'Oppenheimer' exceeded the initial estimates, Robert Downey Jr is all praise for Cillian Murphy. 'Oppenheimer' had an impressive opening weekend, raking in a staggering $82.5M. However, it landed second behind 'Barbie', which made $162M.

In addition to its box office success, 'Oppenheimer' received critical acclaim, boasting an impressive 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Some even speculated it could be a worthy frontrunner for the Best Picture Oscar. Murphy plays the father of the atomic bomb in the Christopher Nolan movie, while Downey Jr plays Lewis Strauss, the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Cillian Murphy, Christopher Nolan and Robert Downey Jr. attend the UK Premiere of

Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Cillian Murphy, Christopher Nolan and Robert Downey Jr. attend the UK Premiere of 'Oppenheimer' at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on July 13 in London, England (Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images for Universal Pictures )

‘I have to learn 30,000 words of Dutch’

Downey Jr heaped praise on Murphy, recognizing the talent and dedication his co-star brought to the project. His admiration also shed light on Murphy’s talent for learning languages.

Robert Downey Jr. attends the UK Premiere of — Robert Downey Jr attends the UK Premiere of 'Oppenheimer' at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on July 13 in London, England (Kate Green/Getty Images for Universal Pictures)

Downey Jr praised Murphy by stating, “I have never witnessed a greater sacrifice by a lead actor in my career. He knew it was going to be a behemoth ask when Chris [Nolan] called him. But I think he also had the humility that is required to survive playing a role like this," per PEOPLE.

Cillian Murphy attends the 'Oppenheimer' UK Premiere at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on July 13 in London, England (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Recalling an instance, Downey Jr said, "We'd be like, 'Hey, we got a three-day weekend. Maybe we'll go antiquing in Santa Fe. What are you going to do?' 'Oh, I have to learn 30,000 words of Dutch. Have a nice time.' But that's the nature of the task."

Is Cillian Murphy multilingual?

In 2000, Murphy featured in a 28-minute Irish Gaelic film, showcasing his diverse acting abilities. He is an Irish actor from Douglas, renowned for his talent and versatility. He embarked on his professional acting career with his debut in Enda Walsh's play ‘Disco Pigs’ in 1996. Later, in 2001, he reprised his role in the screen adaptation of the same play, further establishing himself as a prominent figure in the world of acting.

Actor Cillian Murphy attends the Birmingham Premiere of Peaky Blinders at cineworld on October 30, 2017 in Birmingham, England. — Actor Cillian Murphy attends the Birmingham Premiere of 'Peaky Blinders' at cineworld on October 30, 2017 in Birmingham, England (Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images)

When he had to speak French for his role in 'Peaky Blinders', he had a head start thanks to his mother's background as a French teacher. He said in a 2022 interview with Variety, "I used to have very good French when I was young and had the energy to practice it but I let it go a bit and I don’t speak it anymore, so my mum refreshed me for those lines."