Jessie Buckley Makes History as First Irish Woman to Win Best Actress Oscar | Hamnet
Jessie Buckley has made history, becoming the first Irish woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. The win, announced on , recognizes her powerful performance as Agnes in the critically acclaimed film Hamnet.
Buckley’s victory wasn’t a surprise to many in the industry. She had already secured wins at the Golden Globes and the BAFTAs, solidifying her position as the frontrunner throughout awards season. Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao and based on Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel, explores the poignant love story believed to have inspired Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The film received a total of eight Oscar nominations, but Buckley was the sole recipient of an award for the project.
Accepting her Oscar, Buckley delivered an emotional speech, expressing gratitude to her fellow nominees and the team behind Hamnet. She also took a moment to acknowledge her family, sharing a heartwarming detail about their journey to Hollywood: “Ireland bought them flights.” This gesture highlights the strong support system Buckley enjoys and the national pride surrounding her achievement.
Buckley’s speech resonated with many, particularly when she spoke of her parents, thanking them for “teaching us to dream and to never be defined by expectation but to carve from your own passion.” She then turned her attention to her husband and daughter, expressing her deep love and a playful desire for a larger family: “You, Fred, I love you man… I want to have 20,000 more babies with you. I do. I do.” She dedicated the award to “the beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart,” a sentiment particularly fitting given the Mother’s Day timing of the ceremony.
The win is particularly significant given the historical context. Prior to Buckley, only Saoirse Ronan and Ruth Negga had been nominated for the Best Actress Oscar from Ireland. Buckley’s previous Oscar nomination came in 2022, in the Best Supporting Actress category for her role in The Lost Daughter. This latest achievement marks a fresh high point in her career and a landmark moment for Irish representation in Hollywood.
The celebration extended beyond the Dolby Theatre. A lively party erupted in Killarney, Ireland, with family members – including cousin Emer Buckley, aunt Carol Dempsey, and uncle Sean Buckley, and cousin Róisín Buckley – joining in the festivities. Buckley herself sent a message back home, urging supporters to “Don’t go to bed – keep partying!” She expressed her gratitude for the overwhelming support she has received from people of all ages across Ireland.
The Academy Awards also saw success for another Irish talent, Richard Baneham. Baneham, a key figure in James Cameron’s Avatar franchise, won his third Oscar for his visual effects work on Avatar: Fire and Ash. He acknowledged the collaborative nature of the work, highlighting the contributions of the 2,200 artists involved, and expressed gratitude to his family and to Cameron himself.
While Hamnet secured only one win, the night belonged to One Battle After Another, which took home six Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson. Sean Penn also won Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film. Sinners followed with four awards, recognizing Michael B. Jordan as Best Actor and Ryan Coogler for Best Original Screenplay.
The 98th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will be broadcast on RTÉ2 on evening, offering Irish audiences a chance to relive the highlights of the night and celebrate the achievements of Buckley and Baneham.
The key winners of the night were:
- Best Picture: One Battle After Another
- Actress in a Leading Role: Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
- Actor in a Leading Role: Michael B Jordan – Sinners
- Directing: Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
- Music (Original Song): Golden from KPop Demon Hunters
- International Feature Film: Sentimental Value (Norway)
- Cinematography: Sinners
- Editing: One Battle After Another
- Sound: F1
- Music (Original Score): Sinners
- Documentary Feature Film: Mr Nobody Against Putin
- Documentary Short Film: All the Empty Rooms
- Visual Effects: Avatar: Fire and Ash
- Production Design: Frankenstein
- Writing (Original Screenplay): Sinners
- Writing (Adapted Screenplay): One Battle After Another
- Actor in a Supporting Role: Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
- Live Action Short Film: The Singers & Two People Exchanging Saliva (Tie)
- Casting: One Battle After Another
- Makeup and Hairstyling: Frankenstein
- Costume Design: Frankenstein
- Animated Short Film: The Girl Who Cried Pearls
- Animated Feature Film: KPop Demon Hunters
- Actress in a Supporting Role: Amy Madigan – Weapons