Best Actress Oscars 2026: Jessie Buckley beats Emma Stone to win for Hamnet. She makes history as the first Irish winner

Jessie Buckley won the Best Actress award for her performance in Hamnet at the Academy Awards 2026, becoming the first Irish actress to receive the honour. Her victory had been widely expected throughout the awards season. Buckley had already secured major Best Actress trophies at ceremonies including the BAFTA Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Critics' Choice Awards, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Jessi Buckley makes history at Oscars 2026

With consistent wins across these events, many industry watchers believed she was the strongest contender for the Oscar this year. Her performance in the film received widespread praise from critics and audiences alike, helping secure one of the most talked-about wins of the night.

Jessie triumphed over a strong list of nominees that included Emma Stone for Bugonia, Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue, Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, and Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value. The competition in the category was considered strong this year.



During her acceptance speech, Jessie became emotional as she addressed the audience. She said, "Thank you so much. This is...this is really something. Thank you to the incredible women that I stand beside; I am inspired by your art and your heart, and I want to work with every single one of you. To the producers who created this ship for us to stand in, and my shipmates for life - Hilda, Jessica, Lindsey, Zack—none of this is possible without you."

The actress also used the moment to acknowledge the support of her loved ones. Speaking about her personal life, she mentioned her eight-month-old daughter and shared that becoming a mother has brought a new perspective and excitement to her life.

"My family, my Irish family, they’re all here. Mom, Dad, thank you for teaching us to dream and to never be defined by expectation and to carve from your own passion. You, Fred, I love you man. I love you; you’re the most incredible dad. You’re my best friend, and I want to have 20,000 more babies with you, I do. I do! And Isla, my little girl who is eight months, who has absolutely no idea what’s going on and is probably dreaming of milk, but this is kind of a big deal, and I love you, and I love being your mom, and I can’t wait to discover life beside you. Chloé [Zhao] and Maggie [O’Farrell, the film’s screenwriters], to get to know this incandescent woman and journey to understand the capacity of a mother’s love is the greatest collision of my life."


The ceremony coincided with Mother's Day in the United Kingdom, and Jessie Buckley dedicated the award to what she called the “beautiful chaos” that comes with motherhood. "We all come from a lineage of women who continue to create against all odds. Thank you for recognising me in this role. This is the greatest honour. I can’t even believe it," she concluded her winning speech. The video is currently making rounds on the internet.

The win marks a major milestone in Jessie's career. She was previously nominated for an Oscar in 2022 for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Lost Daughter, which brought her widespread critical acclaim. Her latest triumph further cements her place among the most celebrated performers of the year.

More about Hamnet

Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao, also had a strong presence at this year’s Oscars. The film received eight nominations in total, including major categories such as Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. The story, inspired by the life of William Shakespeare’s family, has been praised for its emotional storytelling and powerful performances.