NEW MEXICO, USA — The filming of Christopher Nolan’s intense biographical thriller, Oppenheimer, was notoriously a grueling process. Star Cillian Murphy underwent a dramatic transformation to portray the titular physicist. Yet, the high-pressure environment was frequently punctuated by cheerful torment. This was inflicted by co-stars Matt Damon and Emily Blunt. They found a peculiar way to tease Murphy about his most striking physical trait.
The co-stars recently admitted they were constantly distracted by Murphy’s piercing blue eyes. This was especially true while filming intense, close-quarters scenes. To playfully highlight this distraction, they devised a musical prank. They also wanted to poke fun at their co-star’s legendary aversion to popular culture.
Blunt revealed that she and Damon would repeatedly sing the hit song, “Ocean Eyes,” by pop sensation Billie Eilish. They did this whenever Murphy was nearby. The song’s central theme is an emotional focus on someone’s mesmerizing blue eyes. This perfectly summarized their on-set fascination with the Irish actor’s gaze.
“It’s a real problem when you’re doing scene work with Cillian,” admitted Matt Damon. Damon played Manhattan Project director Leslie Groves. “Sometimes you find yourself just swimming in his eyes.” Emily Blunt, who played Kitty Oppenheimer, added, “It’s like that ‘Ocean Eyes’ song by Billie Eilish. We just hum it all day.”
Murphy, known for his reserved demeanor, self-professed his lack of interest in contemporary pop culture. He took the running joke in stride. He responded with his characteristic humility by protesting, “They’re not even that blue!”
The Terrifying Stare and the Torture Tool
This lighthearted torment provided a needed reprieve from the heavy, high-stakes nature of the film. Director Christopher Nolan himself has confirmed that Murphy’s intense gaze was a major factor in their long-standing collaboration. It began when Nolan cast him as the villain Scarecrow in Batman Begins (2005). Nolan recalled being struck by Murphy’s “crazy eyes.” This has become a defining visual trait synonymous with his screen presence.
The song they used, “Ocean Eyes,” was released in 2016. It was Billie Eilish’s breakout song, written by her brother, Finneas O’Connell. It has since accumulated over 1.6 billion streams on Spotify. This underscores its cultural ubiquity. It made the fact that Murphy was unfamiliar with it all the more amusing to his co-stars.
The on-set chemistry, fueled by the “Ocean Eyes” prank, translated into deep camaraderie. This was evident during the film’s massive awards run. Oppenheimer went on to become a box-office giant. It earned over $950 million globally. It secured multiple major awards. This included the Academy Award for Best Picture and a much-deserved Best Actor win for Cillian Murphy.
The incident remains a beloved anecdote from the Oppenheimer set. It shows that even amidst the high intensity of an Oscar-winning production, Hollywood veterans find simple ways to bond. Even if it means subjecting a colleague to a catchy pop song they’d rather avoid.