Jessie Buckley Unveils Hamnet's Production Secrets in Exclusive BAFTA Preview
Jessie Buckley has provided a rare behind-the-scenes look at the acclaimed film Hamnet in an exclusive new clip, as she prepares for the upcoming BAFTA Awards ceremony next week. The actress, who has swept every award she was nominated for this season, is strongly tipped to win Best Actress at the film awards this Sunday.
Critical Acclaim and Awards Success
The film, which explores the tragic death of William Shakespeare and Agnes Shakespeare's son Hamnet, has received widespread critical praise since its release last month. It has already secured top honours at the Golden Globes and is expected to be a major contender at both the BAFTAs and the Oscars in the coming weeks.
Particular attention has been focused on Jessie Buckley, aged 36, who portrays the central character Agnes Shakespeare and depicts her emotional journey through her son's life and death. The narrative examines how this profound loss influences her family and, indirectly, contributes to the creation of one of Shakespeare's greatest plays, Hamlet.
Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Revelations
Ahead of the BAFTA ceremony, a newly released clip features cast members, including Jessie Buckley, sharing intimate secrets from the film's production. Discussing the meticulous construction of the replica Globe Theatre, Jessie remarked, 'What they've done with the Globe is really incredible, walking in there. It's too much to take in. It's in the deepest part of humanity, being in that Globe.'
Her co-star Paul Mescal, who plays William Shakespeare, added, 'The way that backdrop was painted, the way the stage looked. It all just felt incredibly authentic and unique.'
Director Chloé Zhao elaborated on her artistic vision for the theatre, aiming to reflect Shakespeare's iconic 'all the world's a stage' philosophy. She explained, 'From the beginning we wanted the film to feel graphic, so much is straight on and everything is designed with symmetry with the understanding that it is going to look like the backdrop of a stage. All of the world is a stage.'
Executive producer Pippa highlighted the extraordinary efforts of the design team, stating, 'The design team have created the most extraordinary Globe, which feels utterly real. It's an absolutely incredible piece of design work. It is three quarters the size of the real globe and we built the whole ground floor and one upper level, it was literally a work of art.'
She continued, 'The design team painted these incredible backdrops. Imported old wood from France, they spent weeks and weeks trying to find the right colour oak and creating the whole theatre, so that's been an incredible journey watching them piece this together.'
Oscar Nomination and Competitive Field
It was announced last month that Jessie Buckley has earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in Hamnet. Following her recent Golden Globe and Critics' Choice Award wins, she will enter the ceremony in Los Angeles on March 15 as a nominee, four years after her previous nomination for The Lost Daughter.
The Best Actress category is highly competitive, with Jessie facing off against Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue, Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value, and Emma Stone for Bugonia.
Expressing her gratitude, Jessie said she is 'so proud and honoured' to be nominated for her portrayal of Agnes Shakespeare. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she shared, 'My baby's screaming in the background, but I am thrilled. I'm so proud and honoured to be beside all those extraordinary women and to be there with Hamnet. I'm delighted.'
Film's Awards Prospects and Co-Star Recognition
Hamnet has received a total of eight Oscar nominations, including coveted categories like Best Picture and Best Director for Chloé Zhao. However, Paul Mescal was notably snubbed in the Best Supporting Actor category.
Jessie Buckley believes that her own recognition 'belongs' to her co-star as much as to herself, due to their collaborative dynamic. When asked about his omission, she responded, 'Yeah, look, I think he's extraordinary in this film. I know I've met a partner for life in doing this with him. I don't know what to say apart from he is, to me, my absolute. His artistry is something that will continue to grow and be a theme in so many different ways.'
She emphasized, 'I know what we created together is something that's so special to us, and I hold that so dearly in my heart, and there's no part of Agnes that exists without Paul. There's no part of what I created or what we created in this story which exists without Paul and what he poured into this story. So what is recognised belongs to him as much as him being recognised in his own category would.'
Upcoming Awards Battles
The main showdown at the Oscars on March 15 will feature Timothée Chalamet versus Leonardo DiCaprio in the coveted Best Actor category. Timothée, aged 30, received a nomination for Marty Supreme, while Leo, aged 51, earned his for One Battle After Another. They will compete against Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon, Michael B. Jordan for Sinners, and Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent.
