Jessie Buckley made history at the 98th Academy Awards, becoming the first Irish woman to win the Best Actress Oscar. She received the award for her performance in Hamnet, and concluded her acceptance speech with a phrase in Gaelic.
A Historic Win for Irish Cinema
Buckley’s win for Hamnet marked the film’s sole Academy Award. She prevailed over Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), and Emma Stone (Bugonia) to claim the prize.
In her remarks, Buckley expressed gratitude to her husband and eight-month-old daughter, dedicating her win to “the chaos of a mother’s heart.” She also noted the coincidence of her win falling on Mother’s Day in the U.K., describing it as “some kind of crazy alchemy.”
Reflecting on Motherhood and the Role
Buckley shared that her daughter had recently gotten her first tooth and spoke of the gift of exploring motherhood both through her role in Hamnet and in her personal life. She plays the wife of William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) in the film, which centers on the grief experienced by the couple following the death of their son.
The announcement of Buckley’s name was made by Mikey Madison, the 2025 Best Actress winner for Anora. The screenplay for Hamnet was adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s novel by O’Farrell and director Chloé Zhao.
International Recognition at the Awards
Buckley’s win was the only major recognition for international films at the 98th Academy Awards. Joachim Trier and Sentimental Value received one Oscar for best international feature film. Paul Thomas Anderson and One Battle After Another were the dominant force at the awards, closely followed by Ryan Coogler’s Sinners. A full list of winners is available here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did Jessie Buckley beat to win Best Actress?
Jessie Buckley beat Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, Renate Reinsve, and Emma Stone to win the Best Actress Oscar.
What film did Jessie Buckley win for?
Jessie Buckley won for her performance in Hamnet.
What did Jessie Buckley say at the end of her speech?
Jessie Buckley concluded her speech by saying, “Go raibh maith agaibh, slán,” which translates to “Thank you very much, goodbye.”
As Jessie Buckley’s star continues to rise, what impact do you think this historic win will have on the future of Irish cinema?
