Jessie Buckley Wins Oscar for Hamnet
Jessie Buckley, the award-winning Irish actress and singer, has made history by winning the Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of Agnes Shakespeare in the Netflix film Hamnet. The film was released on 6 July 2026. Buckley also swept the BAFTA Film Award for Best Leading Actress for the same role, becoming the first Irish-born actress to win an Oscar in this category.
Early Life and Background
Jessie Buckley was born on 28 December 1989 in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland, to Marina Cassidy, a professional musician and vocal coach, and Tim Buckley, a poet and historian. She is the eldest of five children, with three younger sisters and one younger brother. The family was so musical that neighbours nicknamed them 'the von Trapps.' Buckley is the great-granddaughter of Madge Clifford, an Irish activist and member of Cumann na mBan who worked as a secretary to the IRA's Chief of Staff, Ernie O'Malley.
Buckley attended Scoil Bhríde, Loreto National School, and later Ursuline Secondary School in Thurles, County Tipperary. She studied at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in 2013. Her education was supported by a benefactor named Tony, who paid for her training and living expenses in London.
Career Trajectory
Buckley began acting in school plays such as Chess, West Side Story, and Children of Eden. Her former teacher Mary Butler told The Times: 'You don’t just wake up one morning and believe in yourself; it’s a growth thing. She knew she was good, and we knew too. I certainly knew she was top class.'
In 2008, at age 17, she finished second on the BBC reality show I'd Do Anything, competing for the role of Nancy in the West End musical Oliver!. This launched her career, leading to nearly eighty TV appearances and over forty acting credits.
Notable Movies and TV Shows
Buckley's filmography includes Hamnet (2025), Wicked Little Letters (2023), I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020), Misbehaviour (2020), Dolittle (2020), Chernobyl (2019), Wild Rose (2019), Beast (2017), Taboo (2017), War & Peace (2016), and The Winter's Tale (2015). Upcoming projects include The Bride! (2026), Three Incestuous Sisters, and Your Angels.
Discography and Music
In 2022, Buckley released a collaborative album with Bernard Butler titled For All Our Days that Tear the Heart, which debuted at number 23 on the UK Albums Chart and was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize. She also contributed to the soundtrack of Wild Rose (2019), featuring original and cover songs.
Awards and Nominations
As of June 2026, Buckley has approximately 76 wins and 111 nominations, including the Oscar and BAFTA for Hamnet. She won Best Actress at the International Film Festival & Awards Macao for Beast (2017) and was nominated for the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Musical Performance in 2022.
Personal Life and Challenges
Buckley married Freddie, a mental healthcare worker, and they have a daughter named Isla, born in 2025. She has been open about her teenage struggles with an eating disorder and depression, crediting therapy and her love of music and theatre for her recovery. In a March 2026 interview on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, she discussed these challenges. Her net worth is estimated at $6 million.
