In a cinematic landscape often saturated with familiar biopics, Hamnet arrives as a profoundly moving and richly textured revelation. The film, which reimagines the domestic life of William Shakespeare, is powered by what is undoubtedly one of the year's most powerful performances—a turn from Jessie Buckley that the Academy Awards simply must recognise.
A Stellar Production Brings Literary History to Life
Directed by Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao and produced by cinematic titans Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes, Hamnet boasts an undeniable pedigree. It adapts Maggie O'Farrell's best-selling novel, with the author co-writing the screenplay. The project's anticipation was fuelled by its lead actors, the consistently brilliant Paul Mescal and the magnificent Jessie Buckley.
The film presents a William Shakespeare we've rarely seen: not the distant literary icon, but a fully-fleshed human being, often playing second fiddle to his remarkable wife, here called Agnes. The story is anchored in historical fragments: the couple married at 18 and 26, with Agnes already pregnant. They had three children—Susannah, and twins Hamnet and Judith. The tragic death of 11-year-old Hamnet in 1596 forms the film's emotional core, suggesting a direct, poignant inspiration for the play Hamlet written just a few years later.
Buckley and Mescal Deliver Powerhouse Performances
Paul Mescal is brilliantly understated as the young Shakespeare, a "penniless Latin tutor" and failed glover struggling to prove himself. He wears the mantle lightly, allowing us to see the imperfect, striving man behind the legend. However, the film truly belongs to Jessie Buckley. As Agnes, a woman whispered about as the daughter of a "forest witch," Buckley commands the screen. Her portrayal of a mother grappling with unimaginable grief—who could will a daughter back to life but not her son—is startlingly raw.
Her scream of primal pain is the most affecting moment in a performance that is not only career-defining but one we will be discussing long after the Oscars. The supporting cast, including Emily Watson as Shakespeare's foreboding mother and Joe Alwyn as Agnes's kind brother, is uniformly excellent, building convincing lives from scant historical record.
A Visceral and Emotional Cinematic Experience
Hamnet masterfully weaves famous Shakespearean prose into its narrative, showing the playwright's words germinating from everyday observation and deep personal emotion. While the film occasionally moves with a deliberate, prestige-picture pace, its emotional payoff is immense. It turns the well-mined subject of Shakespeare on its head, offering a stunningly visceral look at the man as a father and a husband.
The film was released in US cinemas on 27 November and will open for UK audiences on 9 January 2026. With a runtime of 2 hours and 6 minutes and a 12A certificate, it is a demanding but utterly rewarding piece of cinema. Make sure you bring your tissues—you will be moved.
In a year of strong performances, there is no one more deserving of the Academy Award for Best Actress than Jessie Buckley. Hamnet is not just a film about grief and legacy; it is the vehicle for the best performance of the year.
