Jessie Buckley First Irish Actress to Win Best Actress Oscar

Jessie Buckley made history at the 98th Academy Awards on March 17, 2026, becoming the first Irish actress to win the Oscar for Best Actress for her role as Agnes Shakespeare in the period drama Hamnet. The ceremony took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, where Buckley, 36, accepted the award after a dominant awards season that included victories at the Golden Globes, BAFTA Awards, Critics' Choice Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Directed by Chloé Zhao and adapted from Maggie O'Farrell's 2020 novel, Hamnet explores themes of family, grief, and love surrounding the death of William Shakespeare's son. Buckley portrayed Agnes Hathaway, Shakespeare's wife, in a performance critics praised for its emotional depth and authenticity. Her co-star, fellow Irish actor Paul Mescal, played the title character, contributing to the film's nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Competitors including Rose Byrne, Emma Stone, Kate Hudson, and Renate Reinsve delivered notable performances, but Buckley's work garnered broad consensus as the standout.

In her acceptance speech, Buckley expressed gratitude to Zhao and O'Farrell, dedicating the award to...