Between an Academy Award nomination for her wrenching and uplifting performance in Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet to the upcoming Maggie Gyllenhaal Frankenstein musical The Bride!, 2026 is officially Jessie Buckley winter. If you’re looking for more from the multi-hyphenate of the hour, here are some movies and television shows to check out ASAP.
I made sure to include some musical and musical-adjacent picks lest The Bride! usher in surprise that Buckley has an incredible singing voice. She won an Olivier for playing Sally Bowles in Cabaret! The actress’ first professional job was a reality show tasked with casting the role of Nancy in a West End revival of the musical Oliver! in 2008 called I’d Do Anything. Buckley was the runner-up. Future Les Miserables star Samantha Barks came in third. Rachel Tucker, a fairly famous Elphaba on the West End, came in fourth. The show knew how to spot talent! And of course Jodie Prenger, who won the show and the role, has had a very successful theatre and television career as well. But enough about BBC reality competitions! Let’s get into the roles that got Buckley where she is today after that debut.
