Actor Jessie Buckley on Sunday night made Oscar history, becoming the first Best Actress winner from Ireland. In Ireland, President Catherine Connolly led the nation’s celebrations for Buckley, alongside Irish animator Richard Baneham, who took home the award for Best Visual Effects for Avatar: Fire and Ash.
President Connolly praised Buckley’s “outstanding performance in Hamnet.” The president also acknowledged Buckley’s achievements both in film and on stage throughout her acting career.
“Jessie Buckley’s award is an historic moment. This achievement is a thoroughly deserved testament not only to Jessie’s outstanding performance in Hamnet, but to her performances both in film and on stage across her career to date. I know that her proud community in Kerry and beyond will be sharing with her in this wonderful achievement,” Connolly said in a statement, as reported by Variety.
Ireland’s Prime Minister Michel Martin, expressed his admiration for Buckley on X. He wrote, “Congratulations Jessie Buckley on your historic Oscar success! A well deserved win too for Richard Baneham on a wonderful night for Irish film and the performing arts (sic).”
Buckley portrays a woman coping with the death of her young son in director Chlo Zhao’s Hamnet. The actor’s brother Killian while speaking to Irish broadcaster RTE, said, “I’m so, so proud of her, it’s just beautiful to see somebody like that. She’s my sister, but she’s such a kind person and she’s a real person.”
During her acceptance speech, Buckley shared that her family was in the audience because “Ireland bought them flights” and paid tribute to them. “Mom, Dad, thank you for teaching us to dream and to never be defined by expectation but to care from your own passion,” the 36-year-old said.
The Hamnet actor mentioned that the timing of this honour had a particular symbolism as it coincided with Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom. “I would like to dedicate this to the beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart. We all come from a lineage of women who continue to create against all odds,” she said.
Buckley, who recently became a mother herself, joked that her eight-month-old daughter Isla probably “has no idea what’s going on and is probably dreaming of milk.”
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles on March 16 (IST). For Indian audiences, the ceremony is available for streaming on JioHotstar.
