Jessie Buckley Wins Best Actress at the 2026 Oscars for Hamnet

The win caps a season-long sweep of major precursors, from the Globes to BAFTA to Critics Choice to The Actors Awards.

Overview

Jessie Buckley received the Academy Award for Best Actress for Hamnet on March 15, 2026.
She plays Agnes Hathaway, partner of William Shakespeare, with Paul Mescal among her co-stars.
Directed by Chloé Zhao, the film reimagines Shakespeare’s family life in a 16th-century setting.
The production is from BBC Films, A24 and Film4, with an estimated budget reported at about $30 million.
Outlets differ on whether this was her first Oscar nomination, with one citing a prior 2022 supporting nod.