Jessie Buckley wins Best Actress at Critics' Choice Awards

Jessie Buckley has won the Critics' Choice Award for Best Actress for her role as Agnes Shakespeare in Hamnet.

The Killarney-born actress, known for her roles in The Lost Daughter and Wild Rose, stars in Hamnet alongside fellow Irish actor Paul Mescal. The film was adapted from Maggie O'Farrell's 2020 novel and directed by Oscar-winning director Chloe Zhao.

The film revolves around the family life of playwright William Shakespeare, namely the premature death of his son Hamnet, which is often cited as inspiration for his tragic play Hamlet. 

In her acceptance speech last night, Buckley thanked Zhao and her fellow co-stars Mescal and Emily Watson.

"Chloe Zhao, you have reminded me of the power of telling a story and the journey that you can go on to touch the deepest parts of what it is to be alive, thank you," she said.

"Paul, I bloody love you man. And I know loads of other women do in this room too, but tough s***.

"I could drink you like water working with you every single day. You're a giant of the heart and thank you so much for making me a little bit more human."

Hamnet first premiered at the Telluride this past August, and received its Irish premiere at the Lighthouse cinema last month.

The film arrives to Irish cinemas on January 9.

Other award-winners of the evening include Timothée Chalamet, who won Best Actor for Marty Supreme, while Owen Cooper won Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television his role in Adolescence, and Sinners took four awards, including Best Original Screenplay and Best Score.