Hamnet director Chloe Zhao has revealed a deep personal connection to Ireland, stating that the film carries 'some energy' from the country. Speaking at the 2026 Bafta film awards, where the movie won two prizes, Zhao highlighted the Irish roots of the project, which is adapted from Maggie O'Farrell's novel and stars Irish actors Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal.
Buckley, from Killarney, Co Kerry, won the best actress award, while the film also took home the prize for outstanding British film. Mescal, from Dublin, received nominations but did not win. Zhao praised the Irish influence, saying: 'There's some spirit. There's some energy in it that came from her part of the world.'
O'Farrell, from Coleraine in Northern Ireland, joked about Zhao's casting choices, saying: 'I said, did you actually do any auditions, or did you just go straight to Ireland and you didn't come back?' She added that the cast were 'perfectly cast'.
Zhao described the filmmaking experience as 'life-changing' and praised O'Farrell for the 'transforming experience' of adapting her novel. The film follows the family life of William Shakespeare after the death of their young son, with Buckley playing Agnes Hathaway.
