Christopher Nolan apologised to Florence Pugh for her role in Oppenheimer

Christopher Nolan apologised to Florence Pugh for her role in Oppenheimer.

The World War Two biopic, which landed in cinemas last month, boasts an all-star cast and tells the story of Robert Oppenheimer, the man who helped create the first atomic bomb. Check out the trailer:

With the red carpet photos doing the rounds from the various premieres, you could be forgiven for thinking the Pugh had a very sizeable part in the film.

But if you've actually seen it, you will know that she only makes a handful of appearances throughout the three-hour epic.

In the movie, the 27-year-old plays Jean Tatlock, a Communist Party member and psychiatrist who is romantically connected to Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphy.

And the majority of her standout moments see her and Murphy baring all in their much talked about sex scenes.

While some fans have been disappointed by how little screen time she got, Pugh said she was warned about that when she was offered the part.

Universal Pictures

"I didn’t really know what was going on or what it was that was being made – except I knew that Chris really, really wanted me to know that it wasn’t a very big role, and he understands if I don’t want to come near it," she explained.

"And I was like, 'It doesn’t matter. Even if I’m a coffee maker in a café at the back of the room, let’s do it'."

So she was well on board with the project from the get-go, by the sounds of it.

That didn't stop Nolan from saying he was sorry, though.

Pugh told MTV UK: "I remember he apologised for the size of the role. I was like, 'Please don’t apologise'.

"And then he said, 'We’ll send you the script, and honestly, you just read it and decide if it’s like… I completely understand the sizing thing'."

Universal Pictures

After reading the script, however, she remembered thinking, 'I know I’m going to do it'.

And it's a good thing that she did, because the film has gone on to receive rave reviews from fans and critics alike.

At the time of writing, it currently boasts a score of 93 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

Praising Nolan and the cast, one writer said: "It is the most exhilarating and harrowing story about scientists I’ve seen in a minute, with a cast of staggering renown bringing the story to life."

Another remarked: "[Nolan] captures that theoretical aspect of Oppenheimer on the screen in very personal moments... that energy, that swirl of passion in the unknown it's all there, and it is phenomenal to watch."