Kerry star Jessie Buckley makes history with win in Best Actress category at Oscars
Irish actress Jessie Buckley accepts the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, for Hamnet onstage during the 98th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images)
Jessie Buckley has become the first Irish woman to win the Academy Award for Actress In A Leading Role. The Killarney star was presented with the Oscar on Sunday night at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood for her powerful performance in fulfilling her billing as hot favourite to win the category.
That ultimate accolade in the acting world capped a clean sweep for Buckley through this year’s major film awards, and follows on from her nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 2022 for a role in
Buckley had been winning widespread praise for her portrayal of Agnes Shakespeare since Chloé Zhao’s film premiered in August 2025, and marks the highpoint so far of a career that began with musical theatre roles in her hometown.
The Oscar also adds to an eventful period in the Kerry woman’s life which has also included the birth of her first child, Isla, last year. Buckley is married to Freddie Sorensen, a mental health worker from England.
The eldest of five children of Marina Cassidy and Tim Buckley, the 36-year-old star had plenty of family support in Hollywood, while celebrations back home in Killarney were centered around a gathering at the Arbutus Hotel, which has been run by members of her family since its founding in 1926.
The other Irish success at the 98th Oscars came via Richie Baneham, the Dubliner who was part of the team who took the Visual Effects award for their work on Incredibly, it was the third Oscar success in the category for Baneham and his colleagues.
Other Irish nominees on the night included screenplay writer Maggie O’Farrell; animator John Kelly for ; and Dublin-based Element Pictures, producers of Paul Mescal was on stage as one of the presenters of the first ever Oscar for Achievement in Casting.
Buckley’s Oscar success follows other Irish actresses such as Brenda Fricker, who won Best Supporting Actress for in 1989, while Maureen O’Hara was presented with an honorary career Oscar in 2014. Both Saoirse Ronan and Ruth Negga had previously been nominated for the Best Actress accolade.
Buckley’s Oscar comes just two years’ on from her fellow Munster star Cillian Murphy taking the Best Actor award for his role in
Other big winners at the Oscars on Sunday included Michael B Jordan (Best Actor for ), (Best Picture), and Paul Thomas Anderson (Best Directing for ).
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