The Inception director’s new film stars the Irish actor as the father of the atomic bomb.
So began one of modern cinema’s most enduring and fruitful actor-filmmaker relationships.
I saw a picture of you with your shaved head and your crazy eyesno offense.
Cillian Murphy in ‘Oppenheimer’.Universal Pictures
NOLAN[Laughs] It’s a long time.
You came out to L.A. for the screen test and we had dinner at a hotel.
I felt an immediate connection.
Katie Holmes and Cillian Murphy in ‘Batman Begins’.Everett Collection
MURPHYIt was clear to me from the beginning that I wasn’t Batman material.
It felt to me that it was correct and right that it should be Christian Bale for that part.
But I remember the buzz of trying on the suit and being directed by you.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Cillian Murphy in ‘Inception’.Everett Collection
Those tests were high production values.
But I really wanted to get on set with you, I wanted to get you on film.
We did those screen tests very elaborately, on 35mm, with a little set.
Cillian Murphy in ‘Dunkirk’.Everett Collection
There was just an electric atmosphere in the crew when you started to perform.
there was no dissent.
That was a big leap for them and it really was purely on the basis of that test.
So that’s how you got to play Scarecrow.
MURPHYThe villain that never died!
NOLAN[Laughs] He never died, just conveniently would be sort of offscreen somehow.
MURPHYYeah, he’s still out there.
NOLANHe’s still out there, still with a bag on his head.
MURPHYI love that scene as well.
I remember when you called, you said, “You want to read the script?”
and I said, “You know what, Idon’tactually want to read the script.
I didn’t want to spoil it.
And it was worth it.
That was a wild experience, all over the world.
Being on top of the mountain with everybody trying to ski in a horrible snowstorm and everything.
It was great to have an ally there.
It was quite an experience.
I treasure that one.
That really blew my mind, that film.
You know, working with Leo and all that amazing cast.
NOLANThat was the first time you worked with Tom [Hardy].
MURPHYYeah, and we’ve been co-conspirators on a few things over the years since then.
He was brilliant in that film.
A very special scene for me was that scene with Pete Postlethwaite.
NOLANWhat you guys did was fabulous.
It was quite soon before Pete died, it was quite soon before my own father died, actually.
I find it moving and it speaks to me about a particular time in my life.
MURPHYYeah, that’s our job.
NOLANIt’s a job well done.
[Laughs]
Dunkirk
NOLANI’ll talk very frankly aboutDunkirk.
[Laughs]
MURPHYThat is true.
I think I had to clarify that first.
NOLANIn the draft you read, your character was underwritten and unfinished.
and we’ll figure it out.
MURPHYYeah, and we did.
Again, that was one of those parts that I treasure because I like going to those places psychologically.
I think the best thing that happens from re-collaboration is that you get this level of trust.
I think that’s allowed us to continue to make interesting work.
To me, that’s the most important thing.
You said, “I’m not putting him up there unless I go up there myself.”
You do that a lot and so people should be aware of that.
Again, that’s something that makes the actor feel incredibly safe, not just emotionally, but physically.
Oppenheimer
NOLANNo one knew what I was up to, no one knew what I was doing.
MURPHYIt was one of the best days ofmylife, I’ll tell you that, when you called me.
The thing was, I had no idea.
There was no preamble or anything, I just got the call.
So it was incredibly exciting, and daunting, and terrifying, all at the same time.
NOLANYeah, and that was before you read the script…
MURPHYExactly!
NOLAN…which probably didn’t make it less daunting.
MURPHYI’ll say this, it’s the best script I ever read, that’s for sure.
That’s the only script that I’ve ever read that’s been in the first person.
It took me a minute, maybe a bit more than a minute, to figure that out.
[Laughs] But when it’s Christopher Nolan, you just have that confidence.
You believe 100 percent in his vision, as I have always done.
So it was terribly exciting.
NOLANThe shoot was very sort of fast and furious and efficient.
We were approaching it in a very stripped-down manner which gave us a terrific energy.
I think it gelled very well with the ensemble nature of the piece.
MURPHYEvery day, you had thesephenomenalactors, who are heroes of mine, coming in.
Every day, you were having to raise your game to work with these legends.
Everybody was so unbelievably well-prepared.
NOLANI was thinking that it even applied to the extras.
We were in the real Los Alamos and we had a lot of real scientists as extras.
It was really fun to listen to.
These guys were thinking about the geopolitical implications of nuclear arms and knew a lot about it.
“Not at all,” says Nolan, with a laugh.
“Well, I’m here for you Chris,” says Murphy.
“Just call me up!
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