Historic Win for Buckley

Irish actor Jessie Buckley created one of the most personal moments at Sunday’s Oscars as she revealed the name of her baby daughter while accepting the Best Actress award for her performance in Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet.

Buckley, 36, made history by becoming the first Irish woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. The honour capped a dominant awards-season run that also saw her take the same prize at the Golden Globes, the BAFTA Film Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards for her portrayal of Agnes in the screen adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell’s novel.

During her emotional acceptance speech, Buckley thanked her husband Freddie, a mental health professional whom she married in 2023, and shared a heartfelt message to him from the stage: “You, Fred. I love you, man. I love you. You're the most incredible dad. You're my best friend and I want other have 20,000 more babies with you! I do, I do.”

She then revealed the name of the couple’s eight-month-old daughter for the first time: Isla.

Speaking backstage, Buckley reflected on the coincidence of winning the Oscar on her first Mother’s Day in the UK since becoming a parent. She also shared that her daughter had reached a milestone that week, cutting her first tooth.

Buckley had quietly welcomed her daughter earlier in the year, revealing the news publicly in December after first announcing her pregnancy during a red-carpet appearance the previous April.

Her victory marks a milestone for Irish actors. While performers such as Saoirse Ronan have previously received multiple nominations in the category, Buckley is the first Irish woman to win Best Actress.

Buckley also drew attention on the red carpet in a red-and-pink Chanel gown inspired by the dress worn by Grace Kelly when she won Best Actress at the 1956 Oscars.