Killarney's Pride: Jessie Buckley's Hometown Backs Her Oscar Bid
Home support is surging for Irish actress Jessie Buckley as she prepares for the Oscars ceremony on Sunday night, where she is nominated for the prestigious Best Actress award. The 36-year-old star has enjoyed a remarkable awards season, securing top honours including the Best Actress gong at the BAFTAs, Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Critics' Choice Awards for her standout performance in the film Hamnet.
Hometown Celebrations and Artistic Tributes
Fans in Buckley's hometown of Killarney have shown their unwavering support by decorating the town with signs and banners ahead of the big night. One prominent banner features Buckley's face alongside an Oscar trophy with the optimistic message, 'Oscar is on the way'. Another display outside a local pub showcases the actress dressed in all green, cleverly tying into the town's upcoming St Patrick's festival celebrations.
Adding to the festive atmosphere, a talented local artist has created a striking mural of Buckley's face in black and white against a vibrant pink background. These heartfelt gestures highlight the community's pride and excitement for their local star as she steps onto the global stage.
Buckley's Candid Reflections on the Oscar Experience
In a recent interview, Buckley opened up about her nerves and the surreal nature of the Oscars journey. She described the experience as 'insane' and shared a memorable moment from the Oscars luncheon, where she posed for a 'class photo' with fellow nominees like Timothée Chalamet and Emma Stone. 'I was watching everybody get up and you've got, like Guillermo del Toro and Rose Byrne, Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone and I'm like, "God, I cannot take this for granted, this moment"', she told The Mirror.
The down-to-earth mother-of-one humorously noted that winning an Oscar is 'beyond her wildest expectations' and joked that 'she'll be 80 before she takes it all in'. Reflecting on the challenges of balancing motherhood with her career, she admitted, 'Sometimes you're getting in the car and you're like, "Oh god, I'm tired. And I have a six-month-old, and I should be at home changing her nappy. What am I doing? And I don't know anybody there, I'm scared"'.
Competitive Field and Nominations Overview
Buckley's nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Hamnet was announced in January, placing her in a highly competitive category. She faces stiff competition from:
- Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
- Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue
- Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value
- Emma Stone for Bugonia
Expressing her gratitude, Buckley said she is 'so proud and honoured' to be nominated alongside such extraordinary women and to represent Hamnet. The film itself has garnered significant acclaim, with a total of eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director for Chloe Zhao. However, there was a surprise snub for Paul Mescal in the Best Supporting Actor category.
Hamnet, which explores the tragic death of William Shakespeare and Agnes Shakespeare's son Hamnet, has received widespread critical praise since its release in January. It has already collected numerous awards this season and is poised to be a major contender at the Oscars.
Full List of Oscar 2026 Nominations
The Oscars 2026 nominations feature a diverse array of films and talent across categories. Key highlights include:
- Best Picture: Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners, Train Dreams
- Best Actor: Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme, Michael B. Jordan for Sinners, Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another, Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon, Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent
- Best Director: Chloe Zhao for Hamnet, Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme, Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another, Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value, Ryan Coogler for Sinners
- Best Supporting Actor: Benicio Del Toro for One Battle After Another, Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein, Sean Penn for One Battle After Another, Delroy Lindo for Sinners, Stellan Skarsgard for Sentimental Value
- Best Supporting Actress: Elle Fanning for Sentimental Value, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas for Sentimental Value, Amy Madigan for Weapons, Wunmi Mosaku for Sinners, Teyana Taylor for One Battle After Another
Other notable categories include Best Original Screenplay, Best International Feature Film, Best Editing, Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Costume Design, Best Live-Action Short Film, Best Documentary Feature Film, Best Animated Feature Film, Best Casting, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Original Song, Best Visual Effects, Best Animated Short Film, and Best Documentary Short Film.
