Jessie Buckley wins Best Actress Oscar for emotional performance in Hamnet
Jessie Buckley won her first Academy Award on Sunday for a performance in “Hamnet” that left audiences reaching for tissues.
The best actress Oscar went to the two-time nominee for her portrayal of Agnes, William Shakespeare’s wife, in the historical drama directed by Chloé Zhao. Buckley, Irish and visibly emotional, began her speech with laughter, saying, “This is really something.” She dedicated the award to mothers, noting, “It’s Mother’s Day in the U.K. today, so I would like to dedicate this to the beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart. We all come from a lineage of women who continue to create against all odds. Thank you for recognizing me in this role.”
Buckley dominated the awards season leading up to the Oscars, winning her category at the Critics Choice Awards, Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Actor Awards. She is the first Irish performer to win the Best Actress Oscar.
She was nominated alongside first-time contenders Rose Byrne for “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” and Renate Reinsve for “Sentimental Value,” as well as two-time winner Emma Stone for “Bugonia” and two-time nominee Kate Hudson for “Song Sung Blue.”
“Hamnet,” adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 historical fiction novel, explores the private life of Shakespeare and his wife, dramatizing the death of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet, and the profound grief that follows. Fellow Irish actor Paul Mescal plays Shakespeare, linking the loss of his son to the imagined inspiration behind what became the playwright’s famous tragedy, “Hamlet.”
The film has earned a reputation for its emotional impact, largely due to Buckley’s powerful performance. She was previously nominated for best supporting actress for her role in 2021’s “The Lost Daughter.”
“Hamnet” received a total of eight Oscar nominations, including best picture, best director, and adapted screenplay.
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