It was a huge night for Jessie Buckley at this year’s Academy Awards, as the actress took home the award for Best Actress on Sunday (15 March) for her role in Hamnet. As well as the honour of coming out tops in one of the most-coveted categories, Jessie made history as the first Irish woman to win the Oscar for Best Actress. But there was also a deeper family connection to her win, which she hinted at during her acceptance speech but fully revealed backstage.
While collecting her award on stage, Jessie paid tribute to her eight-month-old daughter Isla, joking that she was ‘probably dreaming of milk’ but that the moment was ‘kind of a big deal’. She said, ‘I love being your mum and I can’t wait to discover life beside you’. While backstage, however, Jessie extended her speech, revealing a special milestone her daughter had recently reached.
‘My daughter got her first tooth this week,’ Jessie said, according to Deadline, adding it was ‘crazy alchemy’ she was accepting the award on what was also Mother’s Day in the UK. Jessie is a new mum herself and also played a mother in Hamnet. The film is based on Maggie O’Farrell’s novel of the same name, and follows William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) and his wife Agnes [Anne] Hathaway (Jessie Buckley) after the death of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet. The real loss is said to have inspired Shakespeare’s famous play Hamlet.
‘What a gift to get to explore motherhood through this incredible mother that Agnes is and was, and then to become one myself, and then to receive this recognition of the incredible role mothers play in our world on this day is something I’ll never, ever forget,’ said Jessie backstage, adding that she had woken to her daughter ‘lying on my chest, snuggling me’.
For the glamorous occasion, Jessie chose a bold, colour-blocking gown with a sweep of red lipstick. An off-the-shoulder satin wrap in red circled the bodice, while a pink skirt draped in flowing layers to the ground. Following her win, Jessie was invited to the prestigious Vanity Fair after-party, and the star had an outfit change for the event. This time, she went for a sparkling black dress with a plunging neckline and warm, more neutral glam.
The biggest winner at last night’s awards was One Battle After Another, which took home six prizes. Hamnet was nominated in eight categories, taking home one with Jessie’s win, while Best Actor went to Micheal B Jordan for Sinners.
