Jessie Buckley has been widely praised following Sunday's Oscars ceremony, thanks to the speech she delivered after etching her name into cinema history.
After becoming the first Irish woman ever to receive the Best Actress Academy Award, Ms Buckley used her speech to applaud her husband and express her delight at being a mother while juggling life as an actress.
The 36-year-old claimed the prestigious honour for her portrayal of Agnes, William Shakespeare's wife, in Chloé Zhao's adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's novel Hamnet.
During her speech, Ms Buckley disclossed her daughter's name for the first time, saying to the audience: "And Isla, my little girl who is eight months, who has absolutely no idea what's going on and is probably dreaming of milk, but this is kind of a big deal, and I love you, and I love being your mum, and I can't wait to discover life beside you."
Jessie Buckley dedicated her Oscar win to her husband and daughter during her speech
|ABC
The Kerry native also delivered a heartfelt tribute to her husband Freddie Sorensen, a mental health professional she married in 2023 after a blind date in Hackney.
"You, Fred, I love you, man. I love you. You're the most incredible dad. You're my best friend, and I want to have 20,000 more babies with you. I do. I do," she declared, prompting her husband to wipe away tears from his seat in the audience.
The couple have maintained a notably private relationship, with Ms Buckley previously explaining that her husband prefers anonymity due to his work in mental health services.
Their daughter arrived in autumn 2025, shortly after Ms Buckley completed filming on Hamnet, having conceived just one week after production wrapped.
Jessie Buckley pointed to her husband in the auditorium
|ABC
The emphasis on family wasn't reserved solely for the actress. Ms Buckley chose to dedicate her victory to mothers everywhere, with the ceremony falling on UK Mother's Day.
"It's Mother's Day in the UK today, so I would like to dedicate this to the beautiful chaos of a mother's heart," she said. "We all come from a lineage of women who continue to create against all odds."
Following the speech, social media quickly became awash with viewers praising Ms Buckley for promoting typically traditional family norms. Novellist Michael A Rothman was just one prominent voice to applaud the Irish actress.
Despite admitting to no longer watching the Oscars, he said he had to watch Ms Buckley's speech twice. "Instead of a political lecture, instead of a pin, instead of a land acknowledgment or a cause of the week she talked about her husband," he penned on X.
Jessie Buckley's husband Freddie Sorensen was left in tears
|ABC
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"Her eight-month-old daughter dreaming of milk at home. Her Irish family whose flights were paid for by Ireland itself to be in that room.
"The room probably didn't know what to do with that. Then she dedicated the award to motherhood itself on Mother's Day in the UK with words that belong on a wall somewhere."
Mr Rothman's complimentary verdict concluded: "Hollywood spent years telling women that ambition means leaving behind the things Jessie Buckley just stood on the biggest stage in her industry and celebrated without apology.
"A husband she adores. A baby at home. A family flown in from Ireland. I don't know what film she won for. But I know I'll watch it now. Well done, Jessie."
Jessie Buckley with Michael B Jordan, who bagged the Best Actor award
|GETTY
Political commentator Benny Johnson was similarly full of praise for the actress, sharing the clip to his 4.1 million followers.
"Culture is shifting," fellow political commentator Anna Lulis wrote on X. "Actress Jessie Buckley praises motherhood during her Oscar-winning speech, defying Hollywood’s anti-kid agenda."
The Lila Rose Show host Lisa Rose echoed: "Beautiful. Hollywood Star Jessie Buckley praises marriage and motherhood during her Oscar-winning speech, dedicating the award to every mom
"Marriage isn’t a trap. Babies aren’t burdens. Motherhood is a gift."
Jessie Buckley also won a Golden Globe, Actor Award, Critics' Choice, and Bafta for her role in Hamnet
| PAMeanwhile, Megyn Kelly appeared on her eponymous talk show to similarly congratulate the actress, branding her speech "extraordinary".
The actress also paid particular tribute to Ms Zhao and Ms O'Farrell for their collaboration on the film, which explores grief and maternal love following the death of Shakespeare's son.
"Chloé and Maggie, to get to know this incandescent woman and journey to understand the capacity of a mother's love is the greatest collision of my life," Ms Buckley said.
She concluded her speech with a Gaelic farewell: "Go raibh maith agaibh, slán" — meaning "Thank you very much, goodbye."
Actress Jessie Buckley praised her husband and celebrated motherhood after winning best actress at the Oscars:
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) March 16, 2026
“I love you, man. I love you. You’re the most incredible dad. You’re my best friend and I want to have 20,000 more babies with you! I do, I do!”pic.twitter.com/gu3gk2khjf
The Oscar capped a dominant awards season for Ms Buckley, who had previously collected trophies at the Golden Globes, Baftas, Critics' Choice Awards and Actor Awards for the same role.
Anora star Mikey Madison, last year's Best Actress winner, presented the award.
MsBuckley also acknowledged her fellow nominees — Emma Stone, Rose Byrne, Renate Reinsve and Kate Hudson — expressing her admiration for their work and desire to collaborate with each of them.