Born and raised in Ireland, Jessie Buckley has quickly made a name for herself in the world of acting and singing. Her talent and dedication have led to her recognition and success in both film and theatre, earning her nominations for prestigious awards such as the Academy Award and three BAFTA Awards.
Born on December 28, 1989, in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland, Jessie was the eldest of five children. Her mother, Marina Cassidy, was a vocal coach and inspired Jessie’s early interest in music and the performing arts. Jessie attended the all-girls Ursuline Secondary School in Thurles, County Tipperary, where her mother worked. She took part in numerous school productions, often playing male lead roles, including Tony in West Side Story and Freddie Trumper in Chess1.
In addition to acting, Jessie demonstrated a deep passion for music. She achieved Grade eight in piano, clarinet, and harp at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and was a member of the Tipperary Millennium Orchestra1. Jessie also attended the Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS) workshops during the summer to improve her singing and acting skills2.
In 2008, Jessie’s career took a significant turn when she competed in the BBC talent show “I’d Do Anything”, a search for a new lead to play Nancy in a West End revival of the musical “Oliver!”. Jessie reached the final and finished in second place1. Shortly after, she turned down the opportunity to understudy for Nancy in favor of another production2.
She made her West End debut in a revival of the Stephen Sondheim musical “A Little Night Music”, in the role of Anne Egerman, at the Menier Chocolate Factory, a London fringe Studio Theatre1. The musical later transferred to the Garrick Theatre in London’s West End, marking Jessie’s West End debut2.
Jessie made her onscreen debut in the BBC television series such as “War & Peace” (2016) and “Taboo” (2017). In 2017, she made her film debut playing the lead role in “Beast”, which earned her critical acclaim1.
Her breakthrough came in 2018 when she starred in the musical film “Wild Rose”. Her performance as an aspiring country music singer earned her a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role1.
Jessie’s career further progressed with starring roles in the HBO miniseries “Chernobyl” (2019), “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” (2020), season four of “Fargo” (2020), “The Lost Daughter” (2021), “Men” (2022) and “Women Talking” (2022)1.
Jessie’s performance in “The Lost Daughter” earned her nominations for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress1. She also won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Sally Bowles in a 2021 West End theatre revival of “Cabaret”1.
In 2019, Forbes recognized Jessie in its annual 30 Under 30 list1. In 2020, she was listed at number 38 on The Irish Times’ list of Ireland’s greatest film actors of all time1.
Apart from acting, Jessie has also made her mark in the music industry. In 2022, she released the collaborative album “For All Our Days That Tear the Heart” with Bernard Butler1. The official soundtrack from her film “Wild Rose” reached number one on the UK Country Albums Chart1.
Jessie was in a relationship with actor James Norton between 2015 and 20171. As of 2022, she resides in Norfolk1. Jessie is also an ambassador for The Matt Talbot Community Trust, which provides support for individuals in recovery from addiction2.
Despite her success to date, Jessie shows no signs of slowing down. In 2023, it was announced that she would star alongside Paul Mescal in Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet”, based on the novel of the same name2.
With her incredible talent and unwavering dedication, Jessie Buckley continues to make her mark in the entertainment industry. Her journey thus far serves as an inspiration to aspiring actors and singers around the world.
