Which character did Jessie Buckley play in her BAFTA-winning Hamnet performance?

Jessie Buckley played Agnes Shakespeare in Hamnet and won the 2026 BAFTA for Leading Actress for the performance.

Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao, is adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel Hamnet. The film focuses on Agnes Hathaway, William Shakespeare’s wife, and the family’s grief after the death of their son, Hamnet. The character is often called Agnes Shakespeare in film references, although Agnes Hathaway is the historically grounded name associated with Shakespeare’s wife.

A common mix-up is confusing Buckley’s character with Mary Shakespeare, William’s mother, played by Emily Watson. Hamnet is also the name of Shakespeare’s son, whose death is frequently linked—though not conclusively proven—to the later creation of Hamlet. Buckley’s BAFTA was one of Hamnet’s two major wins; the film also won Outstanding British Film.