Julia Kane ‘27
Opinions Editor
Includes spoilers of the film Hamnet.
In the spirit of Saint Patrick’s Day, Irish culture is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. When I think of Ireland, the first thing that comes to mind is its superiority in the arts. Between Cillian Murphy, Fontaines D.C., Saoirse Ronan, and countless others, the country is brimming with talent in the film and music industries. In watching the Best Picture nominee “Hamnet,” I was introduced to yet another Irish powerhouse that brought the film to near-perfection: Jessie Buckley. While she has acted in several television shows prior, the Killarney native truly earned her flowers in her role as Agnes, the wife of William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) in Chloé Zhao’s 2025 literary drama.
Buckley breathes life into Agnes, depicting a mother’s fierce love and undying devotion to her children, focusing in particular on her relationship with her twins, Hamnet and Judith. The movie toys with bursts of hope and crushing devastation, depicting illness plaguing their family, both physically and emotionally. Buckley effortlessly portrays the unfathomable pain of childbirth, screaming at a caliber that causes audiences to pray for her torment to end. Even more moving, she somehow captures the tragedy of a child’s death through denial, rage, and immeasurable sorrow. I believe Buckley’s experience as a mother herself helped her to encapsulate such protection and adoration for her children, on and off the screen. The film also boasts incredible attention to detail, as Agnes refuses to hold Hamnet’s hand in his final minutes, protesting the truth that he will soon die. While this is done out of love and refusal to accept tragedy, it leaves Hamnet alone when he needs his mother the most. This moment comes full circle when Agnes attends William’s performance of “Hamlet,” having been on poor terms with her husband following his absence in Hamnet’s passing. As she comes to realize William has memorialized their son in a play, Agnes reaches out to hold the actor playing Hamlet’s hand, while the audience shares her anguish and joins hands. Their son continues to live on forever through the timeless work of “Hamlet,” and the film “Hamnet” is a stunning representation of grief immortalized through art.
To me, it is incredibly satisfying to see such a deserving actress win, especially after last year’s disappointment of Mikey Madison taking the Oscar over Demi Moore. Buckley swept this awards season, gaining the Best Actress award at not only the Oscars, but also the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, SAG Awards, Critics’ Choice Awards, and the Independent Spirit Awards. Upon accepting the Oscar, her joy and gratitude were infectious and a thrill to watch. Buckley’s speech was beautiful, her shocked smile lighting up the stage and spreading through the audience, both in-person and at home. Specifically, she dedicated the award to the “chaos of a mother’s heart” and to mothers watching, as March 15th is Mother’s Day in the UK and Ireland. If you have not watched “Hamnet” already, I strongly recommend it to experience why Jessie Buckley was one of the few locks for this year’s Oscar race. Someone who composes herself with such grace, strength, and gratitude defines what it means to win such a prestigious award, and I look forward to seeing what feat she accomplishes next.
Featured image courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter
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