Cillian Murphy presents Jessie Buckley her first BAFTA in historic win

Jessie Buckley made history with her latest award win and Cillian Murphy added an extra layer of emotion to an already unforgettable night.

On Sunday, February 22, the 36-year-old Irish beauty took home the BAFTA Award for Best Leading Actress thanks to her acclaimed portrayal of Agnes Shakespeare in the historical drama Hamnet.

Her victory marks a historic milestone as she becomes the first Irish performer to win the leading actress category at the British Academy Film Awards.

During her emotional acceptance speech, The Bride! actress reflected on her journey from a girl with a "nuclear bad fake tan" who dreamed of becoming the next Judi Dench to standing on one of the film’s biggest stages.

She dedicated the award to her daughter and "the women past, present, and future.”

The milestone was made even more meaningful by a powerful Irish-to-Irish handover.

The evening’s most touching moment came when Murphy, 49, a previous BAFTA winner, stepped onto the stage to present the award to his fellow Irish actor.

It is pertinent to note that Buckley triumphed over a strong field of nominees, including Jennifer Lawrence for Die My Love, Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value, Julia Roberts for After the Hunt, Tessa Thompson for Hedda and Eva Victor for Sorry, Baby.

Her BAFTA win adds to her dominant 2026 awards run, which includes victories at the Golden Globes, Critics' Choice Awards, and London Critics' Circle Film Awards.

Now Buckley is currently considered the frontrunner for the Best Actress Oscar at the upcoming 98th Academy Awards on March 15, 2026.