Jessie Buckley’s Stellar Awards Run Continues with BAFTA Win
Kerry native Jessie Buckley is on an undeniable roll, recently adding a prestigious BAFTA Award for Leading Actress to her growing collection. The talented performer, recognised for her captivating portrayal in Hamnet, has been a consistent force on the awards circuit in recent weeks, clinching multiple accolades.
Upon accepting the BAFTA, Buckley reflected on her journey, sharing a poignant anecdote with the audience. “As a little girl, I never in a million years thought I would get to make a film,” she admitted.
She painted a vivid picture of her early aspirations, recalling a time when her ambitions seemed distant. “I had nuclear bad fake tan on, white hoop earrings, a polka-dot red skirt and had the audacity to say one day I wanted to be like Judi Dench,” Buckley recounted with a smile. The magnitude of her current achievement clearly resonated deeply. “This is nuts, this really does belong to the women past, present and future who taught me and continue to teach me how to do it differently.”
Buckley found herself in a highly competitive category for Leading Actress, up against formidable talent including Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, Chase Infiniti, Renate Reinsve, and Emma Stone.
Addressing her fellow nominees, the Irish star expressed her profound admiration. “You are all just radical and you are doing it for the naughty girls, and I’m in awe of all your incredible performances,” she stated. Buckley emphasised her enduring passion for the art form. “I love films and I believe in storytelling. I believe in women’s voices to tell those stories…”
A significant portion of her heartfelt speech was dedicated to her daughter. “I share this with my daughter, who has been with me since she was six weeks old on the road with this,” she revealed.
The emotional core of her acceptance speech came as she addressed her child directly. “It’s the best role of my life being your mum and I promise to continue to be disobedient so you can belong to a world in all your complete wildness as a young woman. I am very grateful for this.”
Buckley also took a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the visionary work of Hamnet director Chloé Zhao. She lauded Zhao as “making history tonight as a story teller” and expressed her gratitude for her “uncompromising artistry.”
While Buckley’s triumph was a highlight, the evening saw a notable absence from the Supporting Actor category. Her Hamnet co-star, Paul Mescal, was unfortunately not awarded the BAFTA for Supporting Actor. That particular honour went to Sean Penn for his role as Colonel Lockjaw in One Battle After Another. Penn, however, was not in attendance at the ceremony to accept his award.
