Jessie Buckley emerges as Oscar frontrunner for Hamnet role. Discover how her breakout performance in The Woman in White showcased her talent years ago.
- February 23, 2026
AceShowbiz - As awards season gains momentum and Oscar contenders emerge, British actress Jessie Buckley is finally receiving the recognition she deserves. Her starring role as Agnes Shakespeare in Chloé Zhao's Hamnet has positioned her as a frontrunner for the Best Actress Academy Award, generating significant buzz despite this not being her first nomination.
However, Buckley's talent was evident long before her current Oscar-worthy performance. In 2018, she demonstrated her leading capabilities in The Woman in White, a psychological thriller miniseries that earned an impressive 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This adaptation of Wilkie Collins' classic novel proved to be a showcase for Buckley's remarkable range and screen presence.
In the five-episode series, Buckley portrayed Marian Halcombe, a fierce and determined character who becomes central to an intricate Victorian mystery. What initially appears to be a hybrid between a love story and ghost tale gradually evolves into a thrilling psychological puzzle, with Buckley's Marian at its very heart.
Written by Fiona Seres and directed by Carl Tibbetts, The Woman in White excelled in its storytelling approach. The adaptation employed a back-and-forth narrative structure, revealing pieces of the complex mystery one by one to gradually uncover a larger, more sinister plot.
The series begins with an encounter between Marian's sister Laura, played by Olivia Vinall, and Walter, portrayed by Ben Hardy. Their initial meeting sparks romantic tension, but the story takes a darker turn when Walter encounters the titular woman in white - a ghostly presence that proves to be more significant than initially apparent.
Buckley's performance as Marian Halcombe required her to muster considerable strength to portray the character's fierce determination and unwavering loyalty to her sister. Through her nuanced portrayal, she crafted a remarkable character that stands as a testament to her acting abilities and will surely remain part of her lasting legacy.
The recognition Buckley is receiving for Hamnet may be long-overdue, but The Woman in White serves as compelling evidence that her star power was apparent years before her current awards season success. The miniseries demonstrated her ability to carry a complex narrative and deliver the kind of commanding performance that makes for award-worthy acting.