Jessie Buckley Celebrates Paul Mescal at Critics Choice Awards: A Heartfelt Tribute to a Talented Costar

Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal on Jan. 4, 2026.
Credit :

Kevin Winter/Getty; E!

NEED TO KNOW

• Jessie Buckley praised her Hamnet co-star Paul Mescal after receiving the Best Actress Award at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards.
• “Paul, I bloody love you, man. And I know loads of other women do in this room too, but tough s—,” she remarked during her acceptance speech.
• Other nominees in the Best Actress category included Rose Byrne, Chase Infiniti, Renate Reinsve, Amanda Seyfried, and Emma Stone.

Jessie Buckley celebrated her victory at the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards on January 4, 2026, by expressing heartfelt appreciation for her Hamnet co-star Paul Mescal. In a playful yet sincere moment, she acknowledged the admiration he garners, saying, “Paul, I bloody love you, man. And I know loads of other women do in this room too, but tough s—.”

While accepting her award from Jeff Goldblum at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, Buckley, 36, also highlighted the poignant storytelling of Chloé Zhao, the writer-director of Hamnet, stating, “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.”

In her speech, Buckley praised Mescal and expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to work with him, mentioning, “I could drink you like water working with you every single day. You’re a giant of the heart and thank you so much for making me a little more human.” Buckley and Mescal played William Shakespeare and Agnes, respectively, in Hamnet, which explores their family life and the impact of their son Hamnet’s death on Shakespeare’s creation of Hamlet.

Additionally, Buckley recognized several colleagues during her speech, including Emily Watson, who she referred to as “my north star from the beginning,” along with child actors Jacobi Jupe, Olivia Lynes, and Bodhi Rae Breathnach, who portrayed their on-screen children. She concluded with heartfelt thanks to the young actors, highlighting their contributions: “To my kiddywinks- Jacobi, Olivia, Bodhi — thank you for reminding me what it is to have a ball again.”

Other top contenders for the Best Actress award this year included Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Chase Infiniti for One Battle After Another, Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value, Amanda Seyfried for The Testament of Ann Lee, and Emma Stone for Bugonia.

Jessie Buckley in ‘Hamnet’.

Agata Grzybowska/Focus Features

Buckley’s portrayal of Agnes in Zhao’s adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel Hamnet received widespread acclaim. The story follows Agnes’s unraveling after the death of her son Hamnet, played by Jacobi Jupe, ultimately leading Shakespeare to write his renowned play Hamlet.

This year’s nomination for Best Actress at the Critics Choice Awards marks Buckley’s second; she was previously nominated in 2023 for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Women Talking.

“I’m really proud to be putting this film out in the world, and I’m so happy that it’s been responded to in the way it has,” Buckley said during the New York premiere of Hamnet. “I mean, to make anything at all is a triumph. The other stuff is extra.”

Rose Byrne in ‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’.

Logan White/A24

Rose Byrne portrayed Linda, a therapist grappling with her mental health, in the psychological thriller If I Had Legs I’d Kick You directed by Mary Bronstein. The film illustrates Linda’s struggles as she attempts to manage her daughter’s illness and a turbulent relationship with her therapist, played by Conan O’Brien. Byrne’s performance received critical recognition, earning her the Silver Berlin Bear award at the Berlin International Film Festival.

This nomination at the Critics Choice Awards is her second, following her first nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy for Neighbors in 2015.

“It’s so flattering,” Byrne expressed about the accolades surrounding her role. “I feel very emotional about it. I’ve been doing this a long time, so I feel grateful to have had such an incredible opportunity with this character.”

Chase Infiniti in ‘One Battle After Another’.

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

One Battle After Another has emerged as a leading contender this awards season, propelling breakthrough actress Chase Infiniti into the spotlight. She earned her first Critics Choice nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of Willa, the teenage daughter of a former revolutionary played by Leonardo DiCaprio. “My whole life has literally changed in the last six months,” Infiniti remarked about the film’s success.

Renate Reinsve in ‘Sentimental Value’.

NEON

Renate Reinsve garnered her first Critics Choice nomination for her role as Nora in Sentimental Value, a story about a dysfunctional family reuniting. She portrays an actress struggling with her relationship to her estranged father, played by Stellan Skarsgård. The film has received seven nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director.

“I was very connected to the role,” Reinsve said about her performance. “It’s not my story, but it is kind of. We share that perspective of how complex things are and how subtle you can say something very dramatic about everyday life.”

Amanda Seyfried in ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’.

Searchlight Pictures

Amanda Seyfried’s performance in The Testament of Ann Lee earned her a remarkable 15-minute standing ovation at the Venice International Film Festival, where she portrayed the founder of the Shaker movement in the 18th century. Seyfried’s nomination at the Critics Choice Awards for Best Actress reflects her growing acclaim, following prior nominations in 2021 and 2023.

“This did feel like an opportunity where there were just no tethers to anything… I’ve never been let loose in this way,” Seyfried commented during the Venice press conference. Her nomination reinforces her place as an influential figure in contemporary cinema.

Emma Stone in ‘Bugonia’.

Focus Features

Emma Stone’s latest film, Bugonia, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, has also garnered attention during this awards season. As a pharmaceutical CEO kidnapped by conspiracy theorists, Stone’s performance adds a comedic layer to her portfolio. This nomination marks her sixth at the Critics Choice Awards, enhancing her already illustrious career, which includes a previous Best Actress win in 2024.

As the awards season progresses, the upcoming Critics Choice Awards highlight the remarkable achievements of these talented actresses, showcasing the power of storytelling in film.