Hollywood awards ceremonies often produce memorable viral moments, especially when genuine emotions break through the polished stage presentations. One such moment recently caught fans’ attention when the Irish star, Cillian Murphy, could not hide his excitement while presenting a major acting award, sparking widespread discussion online.

The moment has continued to circulate across social media, with many viewers pointing out the unmistakable pride on Cillian Murphy’s face when Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for Hamnet at the BAFTA Film Awards. Responding to the chatter, Cillian Murphy later told News Talk that he is “not bothered” by people noticing how widely he smiled while announcing her name.

“I am thrilled, there's no two ways about it, she is just an astonishing actor and astonishing in the film. I admire her and admire the way she is dealing with all of this so elegantly,” he said while reflecting on the award win. Speaking about the moment, Cillian Murphy made it clear that his admiration for Jessie Buckley runs deep.

Cillian Murphy’s reaction resonated with fans partly because of the long-standing connection between the two actors. Buckley’s performance as Agnes Hathaway in Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao and adapted from the novel by Maggie O’Farrell, has been one of the most celebrated performances of the year, and Murphy’s proud on-stage reaction only amplified the moment.

While the BAFTA moment highlighted Cillian Murphy’s support for fellow Irish talent, he is also back in the spotlight for another major project.

Cillian Murphy returns as Tommy Shelby in upcoming Peaky Blinders film

Away from the awards circuit, Cillian Murphy is also generating buzz with his return as Tommy Shelby in the upcoming film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. The movie continues the story of the Shelby family, set in 1940s Birmingham during WWII, with Tommy drawn back into dangerous political and criminal conflicts.

The film features a star-studded cast including Rebecca Ferguson, Barry Keoghan, Tim Roth, Sophie Rundle, and Stephen Graham. The project premiered in Birmingham on March 2, 2026, with a wider release in select cinemas before arriving on Netflix on March 20.

While Cillian Murphy’s enthusiastic reaction at the BAFTAs may have sparked playful debate online, the actor appears unfazed by the attention. If anything, his candid pride in Jessie Buckley’s success only highlighted the strong respect shared between the two Irish stars.

Did you catch Cillian Murphy’s viral BAFTA moment cheering for Jessie Buckley? Let us know in the comments!

Written by

Karishma Dasgupta

Edited by

Adiba Nizami