Jessie Buckley: From Kerry to Oscar Frontrunner – Her Rise to Fame

It’s International Women’s Day, and the spotlight shines brightly on Jessie Buckley, whose remarkable ascent in the film industry has culminated in widespread recognition for her performance in Hamnet. The 36-year-old actress has garnered nominations from nearly every major awards body, signaling a career moment years in the making.

Buckley’s nominations include the Academy Award for Best Actress, as well as nods from the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Critics’ Choice Awards. She’s also been recognized by the Actor Awards (Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role) and the IFTA Best Lead Actress – Film, solidifying her position as a leading talent of her generation. With the Academy Awards still a week away, anticipation is high that the Kerry native will grab home the coveted Best Actress prize.

A Foundation Built on Performance

Buckley’s success isn’t a sudden phenomenon; it’s the result of dedicated function across theatre, television, and film since her late teens. Born and raised in Killarney, Co Kerry, as the eldest of five children, she grew up in a home steeped in creativity. Her mother, a trained opera singer and vocal coach, and her father, a lover of poetry, fostered an environment where music and storytelling were integral to daily life. This upbringing clearly laid the groundwork for her future career.

By the age of 17, Buckley had already set her sights on a professional career, moving to London to pursue theatre and performance.

From Reality TV to the West End

Buckley first gained public attention in 2008 as a contestant on the BBC reality show I’d Do Anything, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s search for a Nancy in the West End revival of Oliver! She reached the final, finishing as runner-up to Jodie Prenger. Despite being offered the understudy role, Buckley made a pivotal decision, opting instead to accept an invitation to perform in Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music in London. This choice signaled a commitment to honing her craft, leading her to train at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), graduating in 2013.

Watch: Jessie Buckley singing The Man That Got Away on I’d Do Anything

Building a Versatile Career

Following her graduation from RADA, Buckley quickly established herself as a versatile performer. Early roles included Miranda in The Tempest at Shakespeare’s Globe, appearances in the TV adaptation of Shades of Love, and sharing the stage with Jude Law in Henry V. She continued to build her stage presence with the role of Perdita in the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company’s The Winter’s Tale.

By 2016, Buckley transitioned back to the screen, taking on the role of Marya Bolkonskaya in the BBC’s War and Peace. This was followed by roles in Taboo alongside Tom Hardy and as Honor Martin in The Last Post.

A Star Ascendant

Buckley’s film career began with the psychological thriller Beast (2017), but it was her performance as a single Scottish mum in Wild Rose (2018) that truly brought her to wider attention, earning her a BAFTA nomination. Since then, she has consistently chosen roles that showcase her range, moving seamlessly between genres. From the chilling intensity of Chernobyl (2019) to the darkly stylish Fargo (2020) and the surreal unease of I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020), she has demonstrated an impressive ability to inhabit diverse characters.

This versatility culminated in a 2022 Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her work in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Lost Daughter, cementing her status as one of the most exciting actors of her generation.

Hamnet and a Potential Oscar Win

But, it is her portrayal of Agnes, the wife of William Shakespeare, in Hamnet (2025) that has propelled Buckley to the forefront of awards season conversation. Her performance has been widely praised as the heart and soul of the film, earning her an Academy Award nomination, the Best Actress award at the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards, and the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama. Should she win the Oscar, she would make history as the first Irish woman to do so in that category.

Beyond the Screen

Buckley’s personal life has also been marked by significant joy. She and her husband, Freddie, welcomed their baby daughter in 2025. In a recent interview with British Vogue, she shared a piece of advice she received after becoming a mother: “Don’t forget that you’re also a new thing when you become a mother.” She reflected on how the experience of preparing for motherhood intensified her connection to her role as Agnes in Hamnet, stating, “I wasn’t a mother at the time that I filmed it. I deeply wanted to be a mother, but I have a mother, and I know women, and we’re pretty epic.”

Watch: Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal chat to RTÉ Entertainment

Buckley’s talents extend beyond acting. In 2022, she won an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Sally Bowles in Cabaret in London’s West End, showcasing her vocal prowess. That same year, she collaborated with Bernard Butler, the former Suede guitarist, on a studio album titled For All Our Days That Tear the Heart, which was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize.

Watch: Jessie Buckley and Bernard Butler perform on The Late Late Show in 2023

In 2023, Buckley paid tribute to the late Sinéad O’Connor at Culture Night: Live at Dún Lúiche, delivering a stirring performance of O’Connor’s iconic song Troy with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. She spoke of O’Connor’s profound influence, describing her as a “huge influence on so many women in Ireland and across the world – her courage, her mind, her intense beauty and soul” and a “warrior to humanity”.

Watch: Jessie Buckley honours the late Sinéad O’Connor with a stirring rendition of Troy

Whether she wins an Oscar or not, Jessie Buckley has undoubtedly cemented her place as a national treasure, a testament to her talent, dedication, and the rich artistic environment in which she was raised.