The secret to Hamnet star Jessie Buckley’s success… she grew up in a house with no TV!

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She first became well-known on the BBC show I’d Do Anything, and many people predict she’ll win the Best Actress award at the Oscars this year.

Although Jessie Buckley, the star of Hamnet, has been a familiar face on television and in films for twenty years, she didn’t develop her acting skills by simply watching TV.

The Irish actress, 36, who grew up in Killarney, Co Kerry, only got a TV when she was a teenager.

Her family believes growing up without television allowed her musical talent and creativity to flourish.

Growing up, she learned to play the Irish harp, clarinet, and piano. This came naturally, as her mother, Marina Cassidy, was a harpist and teacher, and her father, Tom, was a musician who also wrote poetry and studied history.

Sean and Carol Dempsey told the Sunday Times that growing up without a TV encouraged their niece to be creative and enjoy outdoor activities as a family. They also shared that she was passionate about music from a very young age, even before she became an actress.

In 2008, Sarah Buckley competed on the TV show I’d Do Anything, judged by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The show featured twelve contestants vying for the role of Nancy in a new production of the musical Oliver!

Jodie Prenger, a 46-year-old actress from Coronation Street, won the competition, and the runner-up was offered a chance to be her understudy by Sir Cameron Mackintosh. However, she declined the offer.

She later earned praise for her performance in the 2017 thriller, Beast, and followed that with a role in The Lost Daughter, which earned her an Oscar nomination in 2022.

Mrs. Dempsey explained that she consistently seeks out challenging opportunities and is driven by a desire to have a positive impact.

Judi Dench, playing Agnes, Shakespeare’s wife, in the film Hamnet, has already received both a Golden Globe and a Critics’ Choice Award for her performance.

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2026-01-26 03:03