DUBLIN, March 16 (Reuters) – Born and raised in southwest Ireland’s County Kerry, Oscar-winner Jessie Buckley’s journey from local productions to the global stage is something her hometown of Killarney has followed with pride.
Buckley won the best actress Oscar on Sunday evening for her portrayal of William Shakespeare’s wife Agnes in Hamnet, a film based on a novel by Maggie O’Farrell, and adapted for the screen by O’Farrell and director Chloe Zhao.
Buckley’s mother Marina is a well-known singer and harpist in the town, and the actress was an enthusiastic member of the Killarney Musical Society, developing a talent that would eventually take her to Hollywood.
Marie Moloney, a long-time member of the society, told Reuters that the atmosphere in Buckley’s hometown was “electric”.
She remembers Buckley as “a pleasure to work with” who worked hard and took direction well.
“She came to us in the year 2000 and she was in the children’s chorus in Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat”.
“She came again in 2008 at 17 years of age and auditioned and got the lead role in Carousel as Julie Jordan,” for which she won best actress at the Association of Irish Musical Societies’ (AIMS) amateur music awards.
Buckley is the first Irish woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress, with Saoirse Ronan and Ruth Negga the only other Irish women to be nominated in the category. Buckley was previously nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category for The Lost Daughter in 2022.
Cillian Murphy was the first Irish-born actor to win Best Actor in 2024 for ‘Oppenheimer’.
Ireland’s President Catherine Connolly congratulated Buckley on her win, calling Buckley’s achievement “an historic moment”.
“This achievement is a thoroughly deserved testament not only to Jessie’s outstanding performance in Hamnet, but to her performances both in film and on stage across her career to date.”
“I know that her proud community in Kerry and beyond will be sharing with her in this wonderful achievement.”
(Reporting by Graham FahyEditing by Keith Weir)
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