Jessie Buckley Triumphs at Oscars 2026 with Historic Best Actress Win
Jessie Buckley's Historic Oscar Win
Jessie Buckley has concluded the awards season on a high note, securing the Best Actress award at the 2026 Oscars for her role in Hamnet. This marks Buckley's inaugural Oscar win, where she outperformed competitors such as Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue, and Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value. With this achievement, Buckley becomes the first Irish actress to win the Best Actress Oscar. Her acceptance speech was equally memorable.
Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao, is based on Maggie O’Farrell’s acclaimed novel. In the film, Buckley plays Agnes Shakespeare, the spouse of playwright William Shakespeare, portrayed by Paul Mescal. During her acceptance speech, Buckley expressed gratitude towards her fellow nominees.
“Thank you to the incredible women that I stand beside,” she stated. “Your art and heart inspire me, and I wish to collaborate with each of you.” Buckley also acknowledged her family’s support, revealing that arrangements were made for them to attend the ceremony alongside her. She expressed special appreciation for her father, who encouraged her artistic pursuits. A touching moment arose when she addressed her partner, Fred, saying, “I love you, man. You’re the most incredible dad. You’re my best friend, and I want to have 20,000 more babies with you.”
She also mentioned her young daughter Isla, born shortly after filming wrapped on Hamnet, humorously noting that the baby likely had “absolutely no idea what’s going on … and probably dreaming of milk.”
She added, “this is kind of a big deal.” Buckley reflected on her portrayal of Agnes Shakespeare, thanking the filmmakers and the author for their contributions. She described the emotional depth of her character and the themes of motherhood explored in the film, stating that understanding a mother’s capacity for love was a profound journey for her.
In a heartfelt conclusion, Buckley dedicated her award to mothers everywhere, noting that the ceremony coincided with Mother’s Day in the UK. “It’s Mother’s Day in the UK 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 continued to create against all odds. Thank you for recognizing me in this role. This is the greatest honor. I can’t even believe it.”
This Oscar win caps off an impressive awards season for Buckley, who has already garnered Best Actress accolades at the BAFTA Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Critics' Choice Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards for her performance in Hamnet. Previously nominated for Best Supporting Actress for The Lost Daughter, this victory solidifies her status as one of the most acclaimed performers of the season.