Thurles Ursuline past pupil Jessie Buckley lands BAFTA leading actress nod as Hamnet makes history Thurles’ proud arts tradition is firmly in the international spotlight this week as Jessie Buckley, a past pupil of the Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles, has been nominated for a BAFTA for her portrayal of Agnes Hathaway in “Hamnet”.
Directed by Chloé Zhao, Hamnet has received 11 BAFTA nominations, setting a new record for the most nominations ever secured by a female-directed film in BAFTA history.
Buckley is nominated in the Best Leading Actress category, while the film is also in contention for Best Film, Outstanding British Film, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay, among a strong spread of technical and performance categories.
The BAFTA Film Awards take place on Sunday, 22nd February 2026, at London’s Royal Festival Hall, with Alan Cumming confirmed as host.
Buckley’s BAFTA recognition follows a standout awards run for Hamnet, with the actor taking Best Actress (Drama) at the Golden Globes earlier this month, where the film also won Best Motion Picture (Drama). She is also nominated for Best Actress at the 2026 Academy Awards for the same role, further underlining the film’s momentum into the final stretch of awards season.
Locally, the Ursuline Secondary School in Thurles has recently marked Buckley’s ongoing success, reflecting the strong connection between County Tipperary and one of Ireland’s most acclaimed screen performers.
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