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Last updated on the 23 March 2025 by Evandrus
Mini Biography
Born: December 1989, Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland.Â
Jessie Buckley is the eldest of five children, she grew up surrounded by music, nurtured by her mother, a vocal coach. This artistic upbringing instilled a love for singing in Buckley, who not only excelled vocally but also surprised audiences by tackling male roles in school productions like Tony from West Side Story. Her talent for performance was undeniable but it was television that first thrust her into the spotlight.
In 2008, at the age of 18, Buckley participated in the BBC talent show “I’d Do Anything,” aiming to land the lead role in a West End revival of “Oliver!” Though she came in second, her powerful vocals caught the attention of industry professionals. Instead of pursuing a solely musical path, Buckley opted to develop her dramatic skills. She enrolled at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, graduating in 2013 with a newfound depth and discipline for acting.
Jessie Buckley’s early screen appearances came in BBC miniseries like “War & Peace” and the dark drama “Taboo.” These roles showcased her versatility, but it was her film debut in 2017’s psychological thriller “Beast” that truly unveiled her raw talent. Playing a young woman menaced by a mysterious island presence, Buckley delivered a performance that was both unsettling and captivating.
The following year marked a turning point. Buckley landed the lead role in the musical film “Wild Rose.” This gritty portrayal of a working-class Glaswegian singer desperate for a shot at country music stardom resonated deeply with audiences. Not only did Buckley deliver a phenomenal performance, but she also showcased her impressive vocal range, singing many of the film’s original songs. “Wild Rose” became a critical darling, propelling Buckley to international recognition and solidifying her status as a rising star.
Since then, Jessie Buckley has continued to impress with a diverse range of roles. She delivered a chilling performance as a young woman grappling with the aftermath of a sexual assault in the television miniseries “Fargo.” In the HBO miniseries “Chernobyl,” she portrayed Lyudmilla Ignatenko, a fiercely loyal wife whose world is shattered by the nuclear disaster. Most recently, she earned critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for her performance as a young mother struggling with motherhood in “The Lost Daughter”.
Jessie Buckley was romantically involved with actor James Norton from 2015 to 2017. As of 2022, she resides in Norfolk. In mid-2023, she tied the knot with her husband Freddie, who works as a mental health professional.
Suggested viewing
Beast (2017)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 6.8
On a tense island shadowed by murders, a young woman trapped by her family finds solace in a dangerous stranger. Their connection intensifies as he becomes the prime suspect, forcing her to choose between her suffocating past and a thrilling, unsettling future.
Top cast: Jessie Buckley, Johnny Flynn, Geraldine James, Oliver Maltman, Trystan Gravelle, Tim Woodward, Hattie Gotobed, Shannon Tarbet.
War & Peace (2016)
Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 8.1
In the early 19th century, several aristocratic families navigate love, loss and their place in society as Napoleon’s invasion of Russia disrupts their privileged lives. The kind but awkward heir grapples with purpose, a young woman searches for true love and a disillusioned nobleman seeks a greater meaning, all amidst the chaos and grandeur of war.
Top cast: Lily James, James Norton, Paul Dano, Gillian Anderson, Olivia Ross, Jessie Buckley, Aneurin Barnard, Rebecca Front, Greta Scacchi, Aisling Loftus, Brian Cox.
Wicked Little Letters (2023)
Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 7.0
In a 1920s seaside town, a wave of obscene letters throws the residents into chaos. A fiery outsider becomes the prime suspect, but a group of women suspect a deeper truth. As they investigate, the scandal exposes secrets and forces the community to confront hidden desires. Based on a true story.
Top cast: Jessie Buckley, Olivia Colman, Timothy Spall, Gemma Jones, Malachi Kirby, Anjana Vasan, Alisha Weir, Hugh Skinner, Paul Chahidi, Eileen Atkins, Joanna Scanlan, Hugh Skinner, Lolly Adefope.
The Woman in White (2018)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 6.8
A young artist encounters a mysterious woman in white, then becomes entangled in a web of deceit when he takes a job as a tutor. A web of lies, hidden identities, and a fight for justice unfolds as he teams up with a determined woman to save a woman he loves from a sinister plot.
Top cast: Jessie Buckley, Olivia Vinall, Dougray Scott, Ben Hardy, Charles Dance, Riccardo Scamarcio, Art Malik, Sonya Cassidy, James Flynn, Cathy Belton, Vicki Pepperdine, Joanna Scanlan, Ruth Sheen, Ivan Kaye.
Chernobyl (2019)
Bftv 9.5 / IMDb 9.3
A horrific explosion at a Soviet nuclear power plant sparks a desperate fight to contain the disaster and prevent a larger catastrophe. Scientists and politicians grapple with the truth of the event while firefighters, miners and volunteers risk their lives to prevent further devastation.
Top cast: Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson, Paul Ritter, Jessie Buckley, Adam Nagaitis, Con O’Neill.
The Last Post (2017)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.2
In 1965 Aden, a British military police unit faces a Yemeni uprising for independence. The story unfolds as both the soldiers and their families grapple with the dangers of the conflict, the complexities of a changing world, and the challenges of love and loyalty amidst war.
Top cast: Jessie Buckley, Jeremy Neumark Jones, Tom Glynn-Carney, Stephen Campbell Moore, Jessica Raine, Ouidad Elma, Ben Miles.
Wild Rose (2018)
Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 7.2
A young ex-convict with a powerful voice dreams of becoming a country singer in Nashville. Despite facing resistance from her family and the constraints of motherhood, she fights for a chance to showcase her talent, embarking on a journey of self-discovery that challenges her definition of success.
Top cast: Jessie Buckley, Julie Walters, Sophie Okonedo, Jamie Sives, Craig Parkinson, Adam Mitchell, Daisy Littlefield, Janey Godley, Louise McCarthy.
The Lost Daughter (2021)
Bftv 8.0 / IMDb 6.7
A middle-aged professor seeking solitude on a Greek beach vacation confronts her own difficult past as a mother when she becomes entangled with a young, struggling family. The discovery of a lost doll unlocks a flood of memories, forcing her to grapple with the choices she made and their lasting impact.
Top cast: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson, Ed Harris, Peter Sarsgaard, Paul Mescal, Dagmara Dominczyk, Jack Farthing, Oliver Jackson-Cohen.
Romeo & Juliet (2021)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.4
Two young lovers from warring families find themselves captivated by a forbidden passion in a modern-day Verona. Despite the hatred dividing them, their desire burns bright.
Top cast: Josh O’Connor, Jessie Buckley, Tamsin Greig, Fisayo Akinade, Ella Dacres, Deborah Findlay, Ellis Howard, Lloyd Hutchinson, David Judge, Adrian Lester, Lucian Msamati, Colin Tierney, Shubham Saraf, Alex Mugnaioni.
