West End and screen star Jessie Buckley has joyfully confirmed she has entered motherhood, recently welcoming her first child with her husband.
A Private Joy Revealed
The 35-year-old actress, known for her fiercely private nature, shared the happy news during an appearance on The New York Times Modern Love podcast. She revealed she had given birth to a baby girl "recently", though she did not disclose the exact date or her daughter's name.
Buckley and her spouse, who she married in 2022 and is known only as Freddie, managed to keep the pregnancy largely under wraps. The public first got a glimpse when the actress attended a red carpet event in April this year, proudly showing off her baby bump. Freddie is reported to be a mental health professional, and the couple are believed to split their time between homes in North London and Norfolk.
'I Just Love It So Much'
Speaking candidly about her new role, Buckley expressed the profound change it has brought. "Everyone is doing great. I mean, everything is different. It’s intense, but I just love it. Love it so much," she said.
Despite her daughter being only a few months old at most, the actress is already seeing her personality blossom. "I really can see her little personality starting to come through. I see this life-force in her and determination. I hope she loves life as much as I do," Buckley added, radiating maternal pride.
How Filming 'Hamnet' Influenced Her Journey
In a poignant twist, Buckley disclosed that her powerful role in the upcoming film Hamnet directly influenced her desire to become a mother. In the movie, she plays Anne Hathaway, the wife of William Shakespeare (played by Paul Mescal), grappling with the death of their young son.
"I'm not surprised I got pregnant a week after I finished filming," Buckley admitted, explaining that portraying a grieving mother ignited a deep, personal need. "I think when I was filming Hamnet, I deeply wanted to become a mother myself. And it was such a gift to move through this woman and her motherhood and her love and her loss before I became a mother myself."
She described the experience as empowering, shaping how she approached her own pregnancy and plans for birth, aiming for autonomy in her choices.
Hopes for Her Daughter's Future
Looking ahead, the actress shared the wisdom she hopes to pass on to her little girl. Buckley emphasised embracing life fully, without shrinking from challenges.
"I just hope that if I can pass anything onto her... is that all the parts of you are not too much," she said. "'The world needs all of you, and that means incubating the struggles... The things that are going to challenge you, you have to metabolise it and incubate it. And there’s no too-muchness. It’s only to be lived fully.'"
With a new chapter of motherhood underway, Jessie Buckley steps into this "intense" but beloved role with the same passion she brings to her acclaimed performances on stage and screen.
