Cillian Murphy joined by wife Yvonne McGuinness and two lookalike sons at Oscars

11 March 2024 , 11:07

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Cillian Murphy and his wife Yvonne McGuinness at the 96th Annual Oscars

Cillian Murphy stepped out to the Oscars accompanied by his rarely seen wife Yvonne McGuiness as they celebrated his Best Actor success.

Cillian made history at the 96th Academy Awards in Los Angeles last night as he became the first Irish-born star to win the Best Actor Oscar. Hailing from Cork, Cillian, 47, was seen embracing his wife, 51, and sharing a tender kiss and gazing into each other's eyes before he headed to the stage to collect his award for his role in box office smash Oppenheimer.

The movie won big on the night collecting an incredible seven awards with Cillian's stellar performance as J Robert Oppenheimer sealing his success across awards season. The couple first met in the '90s and got married in 2004 with Cillian paying tribute to Yvonne and their children in his acceptance speech.

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Cillian and Yvonne embraced as he won (AFP via Getty Images)

He said: "Yvonne McGuiness, my partner in life and art. My two boys, Malachy and Aran who are sitting up there. I love you so much." He then admitted feeling overwhelmed at the win adding: "I'm a very proud Irishman standing here tonight," as he lifted his new Oscar in the air to deafening cheers from the crowd.

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Cillian admitted last month in an interview with BBC Radio 4 that Yvonne has played a pivotal part in his success as she has supported his fame and helped him navigate the parts of it which he finds tricky - such as public appearances like walking red carpets which he finds "quite challenging. He admitted that his wife's role is "crucial" to him and gushed over their two children as he added: "To have a really secure, solid base is important. You have to have that safe place. I certainly do. It's just like an island of comfort and ease.

"It's been crucial, honestly. I don't think I could have done any of the things that we've talked about without having them. It's been the most important thing for me, having those kids and raising them." Cillian and Yvonne often shy away from the spotlight and have been together for over 28 years since they met while he was starring in a play that centers on the lives of two Irish teenagers titled Disco Pigs.

Cillian was joined by Yvonne and his sons at the ceremony (Variety via Getty Images)

The play's success saw it run in Dublin before heading on the road to Edinburgh, London, Australia and the US, with Yvonne joining as a musician. Following their 2004 nuptials the couple welcomed their first son Malachy in 2005, and Aran in 2007.

They were living in London at the time, but made the decision to return to Ireland and live in Dublin to raise their family with Cillian previously telling The Guardian: "We wanted them to be Irish, I suppose. It's amazing how quickly their accents have adapted." Back in 2005 he also shut down the idea of living anywhere but Ireland as he admitted to People magazine "I don't need to live in Los Angeles. I'd be tremendously far away from my family - I'd never see them."

Ayeesha Walsh