The actress has taken home the Academy Award for her performance as Agnes Hathaway in Hamnet, directed by Chlo&eacute; Zhao.

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/jessie-buckley-best-movies-and-tv-shows-hamnet-wild-rose-war-and-peace-age-children-husband-paul-mescal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jessie Buckley</a> has won Best Actress at the 98th Academy Awards, cementing her place as one of the most compelling actresses of her generation. The Irish actress portrays Agnes Hathaway, wife of William Shakespeare, in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/who-is-jessie-buckley-actress-career-films-husband-child" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hamnet</a>&mdash;a historical drama that follows the couple as they grapple with the devastating loss of their 11-year-old son to plague in 16th-century England.<a href="https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/movies/article/where-to-watch-all-the-2026-oscars-best-picture-nominees-ahead-of-the-academy-awards-this-sunday-141126541.html">&nbsp;</a>
She prevailed over a competitive field of nominees that included&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/rose-byrne-golden-globes-movies-tv-shows-husband" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rose Byrne</a> (If I Had Legs I'd Kick You), <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/kate-hudsons-movies-tv-shows-best-roles-oscar-nominations-awards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kate Hudson</a> (Song Sung Blue), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/bugonia-movie-cast-trailer-release-date-plot-yorgos-lanthimos-emma-stone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Emma Stone</a> (Bugonia).
Born in Killarney, Ireland, Buckley began her career as a contestant on the BBC talent show I'd Do Anything in 2008, before training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She built a distinguished reputation through roles in Chernobyl, Wild Rose, and The Lost Daughter&mdash;the latter earning her her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.&nbsp;
The win caps off an extraordinary awards season run that saw Buckley collect Best Actress honors from SAG, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/2026-baftas-red-carpet-looks-celebrities-actors-models-singers-dresses-suits-nominees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BAFTA</a>, the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/2026-critics-choice-awards-red-carpet-looks-celebrities-actors-models-dresses-suits-winners-nominees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Critics' Choice Awards</a>, the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/what-time-are-the-golden-globes-2026-where-to-watch-nominations-red-carpet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Golden Globes</a>, and the New York Film Critics Online.<a href="https://abc7.com/post/oscars-2026-best-actor-nominees-representing-ny-nj-roots-98th-academy-awards/18689551/"> </a>Tonight's win marks her first Academy Award.
This role carried a deeply personal resonance for Buckley: she found out she was pregnant just one week after Hamnet wrapped, and has since spoken about how the story of Agnes's fierce maternal love prepared her for motherhood.
Accepting the award on stage, Buckley thanked her co-stars, director Chlo&eacute; Zhao&mdash;whom she called "inspired by your art and by your heart"&mdash;her producers, her Irish family who flew in to support her, and her mother, saying "thank you for teaching us to dream." She also thanked her husband and their baby, calling the win a "big deal." Noting that today marks Mother's Day in the UK, she dedicated the award to motherhood itself: "understanding the capacity of a mother's love is the greatest collision of my life&mdash; today it's Mother's Day in the UK, so I will dedicate this to the beautiful chaos of motherhood."

Jessie Buckley in custom Chanel. Getty Images.

Jessie Buckley at the 98th Oscars, 2026. Getty Images.

Jessie Buckley Wins Best Actress at the 2026 Oscars

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Jessie Buckley Wins Best Actress at the 2026 Oscars

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