Irish actress Jessie Buckley has extended her remarkable awards season run with a prestigious Bafta nomination for her performance in the historical drama Hamnet. The film itself has achieved a groundbreaking milestone, securing the most nominations ever for a film directed by a woman in the entire history of the Bafta awards.
A Record-Breaking Achievement for Female Filmmaking
Directed by the acclaimed Chloe Zhao, Hamnet has garnered an impressive total of eleven Bafta nominations. This historic feat underscores a significant moment for female directors within the industry. The nominations span major categories, including Best Film, Outstanding British Film, and Best Director for Zhao herself.
Buckley's Award Season Dominance
Jessie Buckley has proven virtually unstoppable this awards season for her portrayal of Agnes Hathaway, historically known as Anne, the wife of William Shakespeare. Her performance in this big-screen adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's celebrated novel has already earned her an Oscar nomination, a Golden Globe, and a Critics' Choice award, among other accolades.
Her co-star, Paul Mescal, who plays Shakespeare, received a Bafta nomination for Best Supporting Actor. This comes just days after he was overlooked by the Oscars, highlighting the differing recognitions between the awarding bodies. Emily Watson, another co-star, is nominated for Best Supporting Actress.
The Broader Bafta Nominations Landscape
The film leading the pack this year is Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another, which secured fourteen nominations. These include nods for Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio. Chase Infiniti earned a Best Actress nomination for the same film, despite an Oscar snub, with supporting actor nominations for Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro.
In second place is Ryan Coogler's genre-bending film Sinners, a historical crime drama with horror elements, which received thirteen nominations. Starring Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as twins, the film made Oscar history earlier with sixteen nominations. Jordan is nominated for Best Actor at the Baftas for his performance.
Marty Supreme, featuring Timothée Chalamet, ties with Hamnet at eleven nominations, including Best Actor and Best Director for Josh Safdie.
Recognition for British Storytelling
British cinema also received notable attention. I Swear, a film based on a true story about a man with Tourette's syndrome growing up in 1980s Scotland, earned five nominations. These include Outstanding British Film, Best Actor for Robert Aramayo, and Best Supporting Actor for Peter Mullan.
Jane Millichip, Chief Executive of Bafta, told the PA news agency that this year's nominations reflect "an incredible breadth of storytelling." She highlighted the "bold, unique takes and styles on display," noting films tackle significant subjects like activism, black identity, and corruption, as well as intimate personal stories like Hamnet and I Swear.
Emily Stillman, Chairwoman of the Bafta film committee, added that many of this year's films focus on human connectivity and relationships. She emphasised that promoting kindness and thoughtful reflection on human connections is particularly important given current global events.
The Bafta film awards ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Royal Festival Hall on February 22nd, where these outstanding cinematic achievements will be celebrated.
