Jessie Buckley: Hamnet star set for Oscar attention

Buckley won the Critics Choice best actress award for Hamnet, and the film opens in UK and Irish cinemas on 9 January 2026.

Jessie Buckley won the Critics Choice award for best actress for her role in Hamnet and delivered a widely reported acceptance speech praising director Chloe Zhao and co-star Paul Mescal. The film adapts Maggie O'Farrell's novel and imagines the inner life of William Shakespeare's wife and their family. Buckley's character, Agnes, confronts childbirth and child loss, and her portrayal has been a focus of awards-season coverage. Hamnet opens in UK and Irish cinemas on 9 January 2026. Key facts: - Buckley accepted the Critics Choice best actress prize and publicly thanked Chloe Zhao and co-star Paul Mescal, saying in part, "Paul, I bloody love you man." - Hamnet is a period adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's book that centres on Agnes and her family and explores grief and motherhood. - Some commentators have described elements of the film's awards momentum as "Oscar bait," while other coverage highlights its focus on motherhood and grief. - Reporting notes the awards timeline: Golden Globes are scheduled next week from the article's date, BAFTAs in mid-February, the Actors Awards in early March, and the Academy Awards in mid-March, with nominations announced at the end of January. - Buckley previously received an Academy Award nomination in 2022 for Best Supporting Actress for The Lost Daughter. Summary: Her Critics Choice win has been presented as a notable moment in this awards season, with major ceremonies and nominations scheduled in the coming weeks. The film's UK and Irish release on 9 January will bring the performance to wider audiences. Undetermined at this time.