Jessie Buckley becomes first Irish actress to win best actress Oscar

Tuesday 17 March 2026 - 11:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Jessie Buckley becomes first Irish actress to win best actress Oscar

Jessie Buckley won the Academy Award for best actress at the 98th Oscars, becoming the first Irish actress to receive the honor for her role as Agnes in Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao.

The 36 year old actress secured the award after a dominant awards season that included victories at the Golden Globes, BAFTA, Critics Choice Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards. She was nominated alongside Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, Renate Reinsve and Emma Stone.

In an emotional speech at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Buckley thanked her fellow nominees and spoke about her family’s presence at the ceremony, noting that they had traveled from Ireland to attend. She also expressed gratitude to her parents for encouraging her to pursue her own path.

Buckley addressed her husband and young daughter during her speech, describing her family as central to her life. She closed by dedicating the award to mothers, highlighting the emotional themes of the film and the role of women across generations.

The film Hamnet, based on the novel by Maggie O’Farrell and produced by Steven Spielberg, follows the grief of Agnes and William Shakespeare after the death of their son. The role marks a milestone in Buckley’s career, following her earlier Oscar nomination in 2022 for The Lost Daughter.

Her win adds to a broader rise in Irish success at the Academy Awards. In recent years, actors including Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal and Cillian Murphy have received major recognition, with Murphy becoming the first Irish born winner of best actor in 2024.

Industry observers credit Screen Ireland’s investment in training and production support for helping expand the country’s global presence in film.