BAFTAs 2026: Hamnet's Jessie Buckley crowned Best Leading Actress
Hamnet star Jessie Buckley was named Best Leading Actress at the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards.
Jessie Buckley dedicated her 2026 EE BAFTA Film Award for Best Leading Actress to the women who inspired her to break the mould.
The 36-year-old actress encouraged more women to tell stories in cinema after she beat Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I'd Kick You), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value) and Emma Stone (Bugonia) to the gong for her role of Agnes Hathaway, the wife of William Shakespeare, in Hamnet.
After Peaky Blinders actor Cillian Murphy presented her with the coveted accolade on stage at London's Royal Festival Hall on Sunday night (22.02.26), Buckley said: "This really does belong to the women past, present and future that have taught me and continued to teach me how to do it differently.
"You are all just radical, and you're doing it for the naughty girls, and I'm in awe of all your incredible performances.
"I love what I do. I love cinema. I believe in storytelling to bring us together as a community. I believe in women's voices to tell those stories."
The star admitted it was an "incredible honour" to be named Best Leading Actress.
Buckley added: "I never, in a million years, thought I'd be allowed to make a film, as you say in Ireland. So, well, here I am.
"When I came to London, I first arrived at my agent, Lindy King, who's here somewhere, and I had nuclear bad fake tan on. White hoop earrings, Polka dot, red skirt, and dress, and I had the audacity to say to her that someday I dreamed to be a little bit like Judi Dench.
"And I don't know how in God's green earth, with the fake tan, she thought that was even possible, but thank you, Lindy, for always encouraging me to be disobedient and curious and human."
The actress made sure to thank Hamnet's director, Chloe Zhao, as well as everyone who has supported her.
Buckley said: "Chloe Zhao, you are making history tonight as a storyteller. Thank you for your uncompromising artistry.
"And Maggie O'Farrell, thank you for this gift of a role. You brought the mother out of the shadows, and you stood her in absolution beside the giant that is Shakespeare. Thank you.
"To Focus, Donna, all the producers, thank you for your continuous support, and to my family, who always remind me how much I love being home."
And Buckley teared up when she gushed over her and husband Freddie Sorensen's seven-month-old daughter - whose identity has never been shared publicly.
She ended her acceptance speech with: "And I'd like to share this with my daughter, who's been with me since she was six weeks old, on the road with this.
"It's the best role of my life being your mom, and I promise to continue to be disobedient so that you can belong to a world in all your mad, complex wildness as a young woman.
"I am very grateful for this."
