Jessie Buckley had plenty of love to give after winning Best Actress at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards — especially for her Hamnet costar Paul Mescal.
Accepting the award on Jan. 4 in Santa Monica, Buckley praised director Chloé Zhao for reminding her why storytelling matters, then joked about Mescal’s “internet boyfriend” fame. She made it clear, though, that working with him was something special, calling him big-hearted and saying he made her a better human.
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Buckley also thanked Emily Watson, whom she called her guiding light, and gave a heartfelt shoutout to the young actors who played her children in the film, crediting them with bringing joy back into the work.
Hamnet stars Buckley and Mescal as Agnes and William Shakespeare, exploring family life behind the creation of Hamlet. Buckley beat out nominees including Emma Stone, Amanda Seyfried, Rose Byrne, Chase Infiniti, and Renate Reinsve to take home the award.
