Jessie Buckley won the 2026 Actor Award for her role in 'Hamnet'
She dedicated the award to co-star Emily Watson, calling her an inspiration
Buckley has swept the entire awards season, making her the Oscar frontrunner
She is the first Irish performer to win this category
📖 Full Retelling
Jessie Buckley won the 2026 Actor Award for outstanding performance by a female actor in a film at Sunday night's ceremony, dedicating her victory to 'Hamnet' co-star Emily Watson in recognition of her powerful portrayal of Agnes Shakespeare. The Irish native has enjoyed a dominant run this awards season, having previously secured major wins at the Critics Choice Awards, Golden Globes, and BAFTAs, establishing herself as the clear frontrunner for the upcoming Academy Awards. With this latest honor from her fellow actors in SAG-AFTRA, Buckley has effectively swept the entire precursor awards circuit, a remarkable achievement that historically translates to Oscar victory. In her acceptance speech, Buckley expressed profound gratitude to her peers, noting how she had been 'categorically changed by so many people in this room and beyond,' before turning her attention to Watson, whom she called 'the realest of the real' and credited as a career inspiration. Buckley's strongest competition was thought to be Rose Byrne, whose performance in 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You' earned her critical acclaim and several awards, though ultimately fell short against Buckley's acclaimed turn as Shakespeare's wife.
🏷️ Themes
Awards Season, Career Achievement, Peer Recognition
Award presented by various organisations to leading actresses
Best Actress is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organisations, festivals, and people's awards to leading actresses in a film, television series, television film or play. The first Best Actress award was awarded for acting in a film, on May 16, 1929 by ...
Jessie Buckley (born 28 December 1989) is an Irish actress and singer. Her accolades include two BAFTA Awards and a Golden Globe Award, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards and three Actor Awards.
Buckley began her career in 2008 as a contestant on the BBC talent show I'd Do Anything, i...
Emily Margaret Watson (born 14 January 1967) is an English actress. She began her career on stage and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1992. In 2002, she starred in productions of Twelfth Night and Uncle Vanya at the Donmar Warehouse, and was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actress f...
The Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA, also known as the Actor Awards and formerly as the Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG Awards) between 1995 and 2025, are accolades given by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The award was founded in 1995, to...
Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment Jessie Buckley came out on top at the 2026 Actor Awards for outstanding performance by a female actor in a film, cementing the Hamnet star’s status as the Oscar frontrunner for best actress. It’s been a dominant run for the Irish native, as she came into Sunday night with major wins already from the Critics Choice Awards , Golden Globes and BAFTAs. With this win, recognizing her devastating turn as Agnes Shakespeare, coming from her peers in SAG-AFTRA, she’ll head into the Oscars in two weeks having effectively swept the precursor awards circuit — a feat that almost always translates to victory at the Academy Awards. Related Stories Movies Amy Madigan Wins First Actor Award for Supporting Actress in 'Weapons': "I've Been Doing This a Long A** Time" TV Bowen Yang Couldn't Join Connor Storrie at Actor Awards Due to Getting Stuck in Antarctica Buckley spoke to being embraced by her peers as she began her speech, saying, “I have been categorically changed by so many people in this room and beyond. … What a way to spend a life.” But the bulk of her remarks were then dedicated to Emily Watson, her costar in Hamnet and an inspiration for her in forging her own career. She pointed to Watson from the stage and said, “You!” “I’d like to say a special thank you to my incredible friend and date tonight, Emily Watson,” Buckley continued. “ Breaking the Waves made me say to myself, that’s what I want to do. … The best advice that you always give to me is to always go back to the well of just being human. Ground zero, babe. You’re the realest of the real.” Buckley’s strongest competition at the Actor Awards 2026 was thought to be Rose Byrne, whose intense performance in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You won her a slew of critics’ prizes, in addition to a Golden ...
