Jessie buckley on Motherhood and Award-Winning Role in ‘Hamnet’
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Award-winning actress Jessie Buckley has revealed how her role in the historical drama hamnet profoundly impacted her viewpoint on motherhood, ultimately sparking a “deep need” to become a parent. Buckley, who recently won Best Actress at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, has been receiving accolades for her performance in the film, and discusses her experiences balancing newfound motherhood with the pressures of awards season.
The Impact of ‘Hamnet’ on Buckley’s Desire to Be a mother
Hamnet, based on Maggie O’Farrell’s acclaimed novel, explores the grief and complex relationship between William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes Hathaway (Anne), following the death of their son, Hamnet. Buckley, portraying Agnes, found that embodying a mother experiencing such devastating loss ignited a powerful maternal instinct within her. She shared in an interview with British Vogue that inhabiting the role tapped into a “deep need” to “find” her own child [1].
Buckley married her husband in 2023 and welcomed her first child last year. She reflected on the seismic shift motherhood brought, describing it as ‘a bit like being a beetle on your back’ and acknowledging the profound changes it brought to her relationship with the world, her partner, and her work [1].
Balancing Motherhood and Award Season
Buckley’s pregnancy occurred shortly after filming for Hamnet concluded in September 2024. Her first outing after giving birth was notably to a screening of the film with her daughter.Despite the critical acclaim and mounting “Oscar buzz,” Buckley admits to feeling overwhelmed by the attention, comparing herself to “a rabbit in headlights” [1].
She is currently focused on motherhood and promoting Hamnet, stating she is “totally oblivious” to the Hollywood speculation surrounding her potential award nominations [1].
About ‘Hamnet’
Hamnet, starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal [2], premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in August 2025 and received a limited theatrical release in the United States and Canada in November 2025 [2]. The film has garnered significant praise, with critics highlighting the exceptional performances of Buckley and Mescal, as well as the accomplished direction of Chloé Zhao [3].
The February issue of British Vogue features a full interview with Jessie Buckley, available on newsstands and digital download beginning January 20, 2026 [1].