Hamnet: A Modern Classic in The Making

Written by Kinga Pelowska . Arts Correspondent . 04/02/26

It’s no secret that this island is home to many individuals of incredible talent. it must be all those Tayto sandwiches. Therefore, it’s no surprise that we’re starting the year with the whole world, myself included, falling in love with Ireland’s newest dynamic duo. Based on the best-selling novel by Maggie O’Farrell, Hamnet tells the story of Shakespeare, not the world-famous playwright we know him as today, but as a son, a husband, and a father. Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal have captured our hearts and souls whilst bringing the story to the big screen. 

Before Mescal started appearing on Irish and silver screens, he appeared on the Irish stage. That is where I first encountered his ethereal talent. In 2019, I had the pleasure of seeing Mescal at the Everyman, Cork, in a play based on the novel by Louise O’Neill, Asking For It. The play centred around an Irish teenager and her journey after experiencing a horrific act of violence, Mescal portraying the protagonist's older brother, gave a layered performance of anger and concern for his younger sibling. Even back then, Mescal had an aura of vulnerability around him that captivated the audience. Since then, with each role, his emotive range has reached a wider audience. Throughout his career, Mescal has garnered somewhat of a reputation for playing a ‘sad boy’ from his breakout role as Connell in BBC’s Normal People to the BAFTA-nominated Aftersun. 

Mescal has ensured to leave the audience traumatised after each role, in the best sense possible. Hamnet was no exception, but every yin needs a yang and for Mescal, that was Jessie Buckley. 

Buckley is no novice to showbusiness having started out in 2008 on BBC’s talent show I’ll do anything. Since then, Buckley has gone on to perform in award-winning shows and films such as HBO’s Chernobyl and Sarah Polley’s Women Talking. I was first introduced to Buckley two years ago when I saw her star opposite Olivia Coleman (another powerhouse woman) in Tiny Wicked Letters, and since then she has stayed high on my radar. Unlike Mescal, there is nothing ‘sad’ about her. Her roles are diverse and thought-provoking, very often portraying strong women who go against the grain.

In real life, Buckley exudes charisma, charm, and energy, and when you hear her speak in interviews, you just can’t help but laugh along. That is what has made this duo so dynamic, there is a natural partnership and balance between the actors and this connection radiated off the screen. 

Before seeing the film, I made sure to read the book first. When it comes to films based on novels, I am a strong believer in reading the book first. Reading the book allows me to understand the story more and to get a greater insight into the author's vision before seeing how the director and actors interpreted the story. Maggie O’Farrell took a moment, a horrible moment, from Shakespeare’s life and turned it into a poignant and heartbreaking story of loss and grief laced with the beauty of love and nature.

In return, Chloe Zhao transported us to 16th century England, where the audience was transfixed by the tranquillity of nature and the simplicity of country life. While promoting the film, Buckley said on The Today Show that working on Hamnet was like “playing with clay and dipping your hands into dirt”, and that is exactly how watching this film felt. I was no longer sitting in a dark room surrounded by strangers munching on their popcorn; I was in the woods, in Stratford-upon-Avon, surrounded by grand trees and the sound of birds.

Sadly, this warm feeling did not last. Having read the book, I knew what the story was about, I knew the twists and turns and the ending. Yet, when the film's climax approached, I was not prepared for the level of raw emotion that exuded from the screen. Buckley’s performance was gut-wrenching. It was agonising to watch someone else go through so much pain. I wanted to close my eyes or turn away to take even a second of respite from the pain and grief, but I couldn’t, I couldn’t look away, even though at this point my vision was blurred by tears.

In comparison to Buckley’s explosive performance, Mescal’s part can only be described as subdued, once again illustrating the contrast between the characters and the actors. Illustrating how grief is not a one-size-fits-all emotion and process. When the credits rolled, not a single person moved. We were all glued to our seats, trying to process our collective experience. As soon as I got into my car, a loud and guttural sob escaped me, something I didn’t even know I was holding in. Even now, weeks after seeing the film, my mind goes back to the characters and their experiences and the brilliance of it all and I am not the only one who has this opinion of the film.

It is clear that Hollywood also recognises Chloe Zhao’s artistry as the film is dominating this award season, with Buckley having already won a Golden Globe for Best Actress and having been nominated for an Oscar and, more recently, for a BAFTA. 

There’s no doubt that the film will go on to become a modern classic. It’s a great pleasure to see two such talented actors at the helm. Despite Hamnet’s success, both Mescal and Buckley are not slowing down anytime soon. Mescal is currently in the process of filming a four-part The Beatles biopic, which is set to release in April 2028. Buckley’s next project, The Bride, is due for release in early March of this year. But before we drop the curtain on Hamnet, make sure to check it out in cinemas now.