Jessie Buckley Faces Purr-fect Storm Over Cat Comments
Acclaimed actress Jessie Buckley has found herself at the centre of an unexpected controversy after a resurfaced interview revealed she made her husband rehome his two cats early in their relationship. The 36-year-old star, who is the favourite to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in 'Hamnet', has been forced to issue a public clarification insisting she is a "lover of cats" following online backlash.
Original Interview Sparks Internet Fury
Buckley initially made the comments three months ago on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, but they gained fresh attention on Thursday, coinciding with the final day of Oscars voting. In the interview, speaking alongside her 'Hamnet' co-star Paul Mescal, Buckley recounted how one cat "staged a coup" against her, leaving unpleasant surprises on her pillow. She jokingly declared, "it's me or the cats", adding "I won!" with an apologetic "Sorry!"
The timing proved unfortunate as the anecdote began circulating widely online just as Academy members were casting their votes. With the internet never forgetting, commentators questioned whether the "anti-cat vibes" could potentially harm Buckley's Oscar campaign, with The Irish Times asking if her "problematic" stance might scupper her bid for the prestigious award.
Buckley's Bizarre Clarification on Fallon
Seeking to address the growing controversy, Buckley appeared on Thursday night's episode of 'Tonight with Jimmy Fallon' to set the record straight. "I need to clarify something for all cat lovers in the world," she began. "I am a lover of cats. I woke up this morning to the world thinking that I really don't love cats. It's really weighed on me all day... I felt sick."
Alluding to the online furore, Buckley explained there had been "a misconception because of an interview that I did". In an attempt to prove her feline credentials, she revealed: "I want to tell cat people that I actually auditioned to be a cat once. It was honestly the worst... I gave the worst audition of my life."
When pressed by Fallon, Buckley confirmed the audition was for Tom Hooper's critically panned film adaptation of 'Cats'. "It was so hot," she explained. "I was sweating. I was like, licking my paws, like trying to leap. I was just like a hoof of an Irish woman leaping across and licking her paws. And anyway, obviously I didn't get it."
Oscar Campaign Coincides with Mixed Reviews
The cat controversy emerged as reviews for Buckley's new film, Maggie Gyllenhaal-directed 'The Bride!', were published to mixed reception. While The Independent's critic gave the movie three stars, others were less impressed, with The Times declaring "Jessie Buckley is catastrophically poor in this misfire".
Despite this, Buckley has enjoyed remarkable success throughout the awards season, achieving a clean sweep by winning Best Actress at all major ceremonies including the Golden Globes, Actor Awards, and Baftas. Her standout performance as the grief-stricken Agnes Hathaway in Chloe Zhao's 'Hamnet' has made her the frontrunner for the Academy Award, with voting closing at 5pm PT on Thursday (1am GMT Friday).
The Oscars ceremony itself is scheduled for 15 March, where Buckley will discover whether the cat controversy has impacted her chances against stiff competition. The incident serves as a reminder of how quickly social media scrutiny can amplify minor anecdotes into potential campaign issues during Hollywood's most competitive season.
