The emotional core of Chloé Zhao's film adaptation 'Hamnet' rests entirely on the shoulders of Irish actor and singer Jessie Buckley. Her portrayal of Agnes Hathaway, the wife of William Shakespeare (played by Paul Mescal), has become the defining element of the tender meditation on love and grief, transforming her into a leading contender for this year's major awards, including the Golden Globes, Baftas, and Oscars.
From Raw Scream to Critical Acclaim
Buckley's performance is marked by a rare, unguarded intensity. In one pivotal scene, when Agnes realises her son Hamnet has died, Buckley releases a scream so visceral that director Chloé Zhao described it as coming from "beyond past, present and future". This raw power has already earned her a Critics' Circle award for best actress, with The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw calling her "unselfconsciously beguiling" and Rolling Stone predicting audiences will be discussing her work for years to come.
Reflecting on the role, the 36-year-old actor recently said Agnes represented "the full story of what I understand a woman to be", highlighting a woman's capacity as a mother, lover, and individual with her own language beside a "gigantic" figure like Shakespeare.
A Journey Forged on Stage and Screen
Buckley's ability to channel profound emotion was honed over a diverse career. Born in Killarney, County Kerry, she studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada) in London after an early foray into the public eye as a contestant on the 2008 BBC talent show I'd Do Anything, where she finished second in the search for a new Nancy for Oliver!
Her post-Rada stage career flourished with roles at Shakespeare's Globe and the West End. On screen, she built a formidable reputation through series like BBC's 'War & Peace' and 'Chernobyl', and films such as Beast, for which director Michael Pearce praised her commitment, noting she gave "every ounce of herself". He observed that Buckley instinctively made her character "far more alive, like she was a raw nerve".
"One of the Best to Ever Do It"
Buckley's ascent continued with an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 2021's The Lost Daughter, where she played a younger version of Olivia Colman's character. She later won an Olivier award for her role as Sally Bowles in Cabaret. Her co-star in Men, Rory Kinnear, stated unequivocally that everyone who has worked with her "knows she will go down as one of the best to ever do it".
Director Rebecca Frecknall, who worked with Buckley on Cabaret, captured her unique presence, saying she is "so live all of the time, like she has one less layer of skin than anyone else". Co-star Ben Whishaw offered a similarly vivid metaphor, comparing watching her work to "observing an animal in its natural habitat".
Now, with her performance in Hamnet drawing comparisons to greats like Gena Rowlands and Anna Magnani, Buckley faces stiff awards competition from the likes of Chase Infiniti and Renate Reinsve. Regardless of the outcome, her stated intention remains clear: to make audiences feel deeply connected. Living in Norfolk with her husband, a mental health worker, and their young child, Buckley's journey from a televised talent contest to the pinnacle of cinematic acclaim is a testament to her extraordinary and uncontainable talent.
