Emma Stone: Jessie Buckley’s Blue BAFTA Night, Hamnet’s Awards and What Comes Next
Jessie Buckley took home the Best Leading Actress award at the British Academy Film Awards, arriving at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London in a striking blue gown; emma stone — unclear in the provided context. Buckley’s win for her portrayal in Hamnet capped a night that blended fashion, emotion and multiple honours for the film.
Jessie Buckley’s BAFTA win and the speech
Buckley won the prestigious Best Leading Actress trophy for her performance in Hamnet and cried on stage during her acceptance. She dedicated the moment to women past, present and future who taught her to do work differently, and she turned her attention to director Chloé Zhao to thank her for uncompromising artistry and for making history as a storyteller. Chloé Zhao watched from the audience and mouthed “I love you” repeatedly to Buckley as she made her speech.
Emma Stone
unclear in the provided context
Wardrobe: the blue gown and a pattern of striking looks
Buckley walked the red carpet in a striking blue velvet gown with a cowl back, a custom adaptation by Matthieu Blazy for Chanel. The dress was adapted from a look that appeared in the 2026 Métiers d’art collection last fall; Buckley’s version used the same vibrant velvet fabric but swapped the original long sleeves for a sleeveless silhouette, adjusted the waistline and was finished with silver floral embellishments on each shoulder.
This was not the only show-stopping blue moment for Buckley this season. Earlier in the year she earned her first Golden Globe for Hamnet, where she wore a silk baby-blue look by Jonathan Anderson for Dior, styled by Danielle Goldberg; that asymmetrical, off-the-shoulder number was paired with sparkling diamond earrings.
Hamnet: cast, story and additional awards
In Hamnet, Buckley plays Agnes Hathaway, William Shakespeare’s wife, in a film adapted from the book by Maggie O'Farrell. Paul Mescal plays William Shakespeare in the film, which follows the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of the couple’s son and the ways the couple handle their grief. The film proved a hit with critics and awards bodies, earning Buckley a string of top nominations including at the BAFTAs and the Oscars.
Members of the Hamnet team posed with the Outstanding British Film Award for Hamnet; appearing left to right in images were Joe Alwyn, Maggie O'Farrell, Liza Marshall, Dame Pippa Harris, Chloé Zhao, Jacobi Jupe, Jessie Buckley, Olivia Lynes, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Emily Watson and Nicolas Gonda.
Competition on the night and broader awards context
Chloé Zhao was nominated for Best Director for Hamnet but lost that prize to Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another. Paul Mescal was nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category but missed out to Sean Penn, who won for One Battle After Another. Buckley now faces a wait until March 15 to learn the outcome of her Oscar bid.
Personal life and reflection
Background details provided note that Buckley lives with her husband, Freddie, and their family in a 16th-century manor house in the Norfolk Fens. Working on Hamnet was described by Buckley as a life-changing experience, and the film’s depiction of grief and creative response has been central to the awards attention it has received.
What to watch next
On the awards front, the immediate next milestone for Buckley is the Oscars announcement for which she remains a contender; she must wait until March 15 for that result. For the film, the combination of acting recognition, production accolades and public response suggests continued awards-season momentum, while the public reaction to Buckley’s speech and wardrobe has been a defining element of the evening.
