Jessie Buckley, the Killarney-born actress whose talent has captivated audiences on both sides of the Atlantic, has claimed the Critics Choice Award for Best Actress for her stunning performance in HAMNET, the historical drama that has emerged as one of the season’s most emotionally resonant films. The twenty-nine-year-old collected her prize at the thirty-first annual Critics Choice Awards ceremony in Santa Monica, California, where comedian Chelsea Handler presided over an evening that celebrated the year’s finest achievements in cinema.
Buckley’s triumph represents a significant milestone in a career that has consistently demonstrated her ability to inhabit complex characters with remarkable depth and authenticity. Her acceptance speech revealed the profound impact that working on HAMNET had on her artistic journey, as she paid heartfelt tribute to director Chloé Zhao, whose vision brought Maggie O’Farrell’s acclaimed novel to cinematic life. “Chloe Zhao, you have reminded me of the power of telling a story and the journey that you can go on to touch the deepest parts of what it is to be alive, thank you,”
Buckley told the assembled audience, her words underscoring the emotional intensity of the filmmaking experience. She also acknowledged her co-stars, including Irish actor Paul Mescal and the distinguished Emily Watson, with characteristic warmth and humor. “Paul, I bloody love you man. And I know loads of other women do in this room too, but tough shit,” she said, drawing laughter from the crowd while expressing genuine affection for her colleague.
HAMNET explores one of the most devastating chapters in William Shakespeare’s life, centering on the playwright and his wife Agnes as they navigate the unbearable grief that follows the death of their eleven-year-old son. The film has been praised for its intimate portrayal of parental loss and its sensitive exploration of how tragedy shaped one of history’s greatest writers, with Buckley’s performance anchoring the narrative with raw emotional power that critics have described as unforgettable.
Graham Norton is stepping into uncharted territory with THE NEIGHBOURHOOD—an ITV gameshow that`s about to flip the reality TV script entirely.
What happens when you put everyday people in extraordinary circumstances and ask them to compete against their neighbors for serious money?
More at irishfilmtv.com.
17 years old. A trip to Holland. Two Irish lads with big dreams and zero idea what was coming.
That`s where Ciarán Hinds and Liam Neeson bonded—and it changed everything. 🎬
In a beautiful moment on the Late Late Show, Hinds reflected on the power of those formative years—and why family, not accolades, is what truly matters. 💫
Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.
72 hours. One decision. Everything on the line.
Andrew Scott is stepping into one of WWII`s most untold stories in the upcoming film PRESSURE—where a meteorologist`s weather forecast became the most consequential prediction in history.
Watch new trailer at irishfilmtv.com.
🎬 THE YEAR OF ÉANNA HARDWICKE 🎬
From SAIPAN to THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD to NO ORDINARY HEIST—this is the actor`s defining moment. An IFTA winner. A West End star. Now a desperate man caught in a heist like no other.
In cinemas THIS WEEK: a gripping true story of the infamous Northern Bank robbery. £26.5 million. Two families held hostage. No way out.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
BELFAST`s Jamie Dornan will host SNL UK this weekend.
Dornan, known for his role in FIFTY SHADES OF GREY and THE TOURIST, will front the program alongside Brit-award winning band Wolf Alice.
The show marks the first British incarnation of the sketch series, which was created by Lorne Michaels and first launched in the US in 1975.
Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.
In a brand-new interview, OUTLANDER star/executive producer, Caitríona Balfe, discusses THAT pivotal Season 8, Episode 3 scene where Claire saves a baby.
A must-watch for OUTLANDER fans!
More at irishfilmtv.com.
✨ Brendan Gleeson just reminded us why he`s one of the greats ✨
Yesterday at the London Standard Theatre Awards, Gleeson took the night for his performance in THE WEIR—and honestly? there`s no one else who could have done it quite like him.
This is an actor who doesn`t perform. he breathes into the role. he becomes it. soul-deep, nuanced, the kind of characterisation that makes you forget you`re watching acting at all.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
* THE IMMORTAL MAN now on Netflix *
This is not a spinoff. This is not a revival. This is Tommy Shelby`s final reckoning—the definitive end to one of the most captivating characters television has ever created.
The gypsy king`s last move is being made. Are you ready?
More PEAKY at irishfilmtv.com.
Fresh from his @iftaacademy LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, Ciaran Hinds returns to Irish theatres in MIDWINTER BREAK.
Hinds and co-star, Leslie Mansville, deliver amazing performances - they move through this film with a kind of choreographed delicacy, two people who have built their relationship on a foundation of interlocking vulnerabilities and mutual evasions. In theatres tomorrow, Mar 20.
More info at irishfilmtv.com.
