Cillian Murphy entered an exclusive circle earlier this year by winning the Oscar for Best Actor for his role as physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed film “Oppenheimer,” which won Best Picture.

Despite this remarkable achievement, the soft-spoken Irish actor appears unfazed, diving directly back into work following his historic win.

“I went straight to another movie, and then took a holiday,” states the 48-year-old Murphy, who is set to appear in “Small Things Like These,” which hits theaters on Friday.

So, about that Oscar—please tell us it’s not just acting as a paperweight in his home, where he lives with his wife Yvonne McGuinness and their two teenage sons.

“No, no, no,” he chuckles lightly. “It’s on a shelf, nothing extraordinary.”

Murphy isn’t dismissing the significance of winning an Oscar. Rather, it seems the experience still feels surreal to him.

“It was a major event, almost like a dream. I don’t think I’ve taken the time to really reflect on it,” he admits, pausing. “It sounds bizarre…even when you repeat it, ‘Oscar winner,’ it feels like, ‘What? Who?'”

Fans of Murphy can look forward to two upcoming films, plus a highly anticipated project based on the BBC series “Peaky Blinders,” which is currently being filmed and set for release next year.

First on the agenda is “Small Things Like These,” directed by Belgian filmmaker Tim Mielants and adapted from Claire Keegan’s Prize-winning novel that highlights the troubling treatment of pregnant Irish girls by the Catholic Church. The next project, “Steve,” will be another Mielants work recounting a day in the life of a reform school headmaster.

Regarding “Peaky Blinders,” Murphy expresses a strong desire to see the story of his character, the power-hungry crime boss Tommy Shelby, come to a conclusion. This film is under the direction of Tom Harper, a veteran from the series, and will co-star Barry Keoghan, who earned an Oscar nomination for “The Banshees of Inisherin.”

Unlike many actors who turn to directing, Murphy prefers to focus on discovering “the best stories” available to him. “I’m not good at strategizing my career, so it’s simply about finding those compelling stories, which can be a challenge,” he explains.

Murphy emphasizes that winning an Oscar hasn’t drastically altered his career decisions or made him more selective with his roles.

“I’ve always been particular,” he laughs. “But it’s not about being choosy; it’s about being patient. If you want to work continuously, you can, but you want to ensure it’s meaningful work. You wouldn’t want fans to experience ‘Cillian fatigue’.”

Director Christopher Nolan has developed a strong partnership with Cillian Murphy over the last 20 years, working together on six films including the Batman trilogy, “Inception,” “Dunkirk,” and “Oppenheimer,” the latter of which gave Murphy a lead role. Fans are left wondering if another collaboration is on the horizon.

“That’s entirely up to Chris, not me,” Murphy remarks with deep respect. “I would love to work with him again. Collaborating with Chris has profoundly impacted my career. I regard him as one of the finest directors today.”

Murphy then smiles and shrugs, saying, “But Chris is notoriously secretive about his projects, so I have no inside scoop.”

Considering the serious roles Murphy often takes, could we see him in a lighter genre, like a comedy or a Marvel superhero film?

“I can’t say,” he replies, which sounds much like a “No.”

“The films I choose to make are the ones I genuinely want to watch,” he explains. He then contemplates a bit further. “But it might be unwise to close the door on any opportunities. You never know what might come your way, right?”

No matter what comes next, you can expect Murphy to keep pursuing his craft.

“I don’t think anyone can truly master acting,” he states. “A well-known director once said it takes about 30 years for an actor to really understand their craft, and I’ve been at it for 29 years. So I’m almost there! The key for me is to maintain a sense of curiosity, as there’s always more to learn.”