Jessie Buckley has been awarded the Leading Actress BAFTA for her performance in the film Hamnet, becoming the first Irish actress to receive the honor. The award was presented by Cillian Murphy at the ceremony held in London on February 22nd, 2026, according to reports from RTE and the BBC.
Buckley’s portrayal of Agnes, Shakespeare’s wife, in Hamnet was widely praised, and she entered the awards as the favorite to win the category. Accepting the award, Buckley stated, “What we have is nuts. This really does belong to the women past, present and future that taught me and continue to teach me how to do it differently.”
The BBC reported that Robert Aramayo also had a successful night, winning both the Best Actor award for his role in I Swear and the BAFTA Rising Star Award – a first for any actor or actress in the same year. Aramayo’s win saw him beat competition from established Hollywood actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet.
Hamnet itself also received recognition, winning the BAFTA for Outstanding British Film. The Prince and Princess of Wales were in attendance at the ceremony, with the Princess of Wales revealing she had watched the film on Saturday, noting it left her “with highly puffy eyes.” The Prince of Wales indicated he had yet to view the film, stating he needed to be in a “calm state” to do so.
The awards ceremony also saw Wunmi Mosaku recognized for her work, demonstrating what Getty Images described as “ancestral power” with her BAFTA win.
