Who played Agnes Shakespeare in the Best Actress-winning role?

Jessie Buckley played Agnes Shakespeare in the Best Actress-winning role.

Buckley won the Academy Award for Best Actress for portraying Agnes Shakespeare in Hamnet, Chloé Zhao’s adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s historical novel. The film imagines the emotional life of Agnes, the wife of William Shakespeare, and links her family’s grief to the creation of Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet.

Agnes is not simply a supporting figure in a famous writer’s biography. Hamnet places her at the center of its story, presenting her as a healer, mother, and emotionally complex woman whose relationship with Shakespeare and devastating personal loss shape the film’s dramatic arc. Buckley’s performance was recognized as the leading role, despite the story’s connection to one of literature’s most famous men.

Buckley’s Oscar was historically notable: she became the first Irish actress to win Best Actress. The other nominees included Emma Stone, Renate Reinsve, Rose Byrne, and Kate Hudson. A frequent mistake is confusing this award with the supporting-actress Oscar, which went to Amy Madigan for Weapons.