Robert Downey Jr. Has No Plans to Slow Down After Winning an Oscar: More ‘Tricks Up My Sleeve' (Exclusive)

Robert Downey Jr.’s Oscar-winning turn in Oppenheimer was impressive, but he’s excited to show fans what comes next. 

“I got a couple other tricks up my sleeve,” teases the actor, who stars in HBO’s upcoming The Sympathizer, based on the bestselling 2015 novel from Viet Thanh Nguyen. The miniseries premieres April 14.

Downey — who lost weight, shaved his head and changed the way he walked to portray Oppenheimer’s scheming Lewis Strauss in the epic drama about the so-called father of the atomic bomb — goes even deeper into disguise in The Sympathizer.

“It wasn't particularly subtle, it wasn't meant to be, but I'm already proud of what I've seen,” says Downey, 58, who plays four different characters.

Downey and his wife and producing partner, Susan, spoke with PEOPLE at the post-show Governor’s Ball, shortly after the actor climbed the stage at Hollywood’s Dolby Theater to claim the Best Supporting Actor trophy for his work in the Christopher Nolan film, which took home seven awards, including Best Picture.

“We're just getting started,” adds Susan, 50, of her plans with Downey, starting with The Sympathizer, which Team Downey produced. A third and final season of their Emmy-winning Netflix fantasy series Sweet Tooth will air later this year.

“We talk about it all the time," she says. "There's so many more things we want to do together and achieve together and play together, create together.”

Downey jokes that their collaboration is an “inside job,” adding, “I believe that in our own way we have mountains yet to climb.”

The actor clearly enjoys his partnership with his wife, with whom he shares son Exton, 12, and daughter Avri, 9.

In his Oscars victory speech — which was sweet, salty and full of heart, much like Downey himself — he toasted his family, including his three kids (Downey is also a father to Indio, 30, from a previous marriage) and his “veterinarian, I mean wife,” Susan.

“She found me a snarling rescue pet and loved me back to life. That’s why I’m here,” he continued.

The pair met on the 2003 film Gothika, after Downey had gone through a rough patch, and he credits her with his second act, which included playing lead roles in two huge franchises: Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the titular sleuth in the Sherlock Holmes franchise.

But it was Oppenheimer that attracted the Academy’s attention for the third time (he’d previously been nominated for Best Actor for playing Charlie Chaplin in the 1992 movie Chaplin, and Best Supporting Actor for playing an eccentric method actor in 2008’s Tropic Thunder.)

Friends like Jon Favreau, who directed Downey in Iron Man and Iron Man 2, are happy to see the actor receive love this awards season, which he swept.

“It’s nice that the sun is shining on him, because it takes turns,” says Favreau, 57. “You really get the sense that he’s putting things in perspective, and he seems to be understanding what this moment means.” 

Fellow MCU star Jeremy Renner agrees. “He's doing so well, man. He's got a ton of energy and he's got his beautiful wife with him,” says the Avengers star, 53. “He’s having a really great time. I’m so, so proud of him.”

For more on Robert Downey Jr., pick up the new issue of PEOPLE.