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Oscar-nominated actress reflects on acting as lifeline
Irish star Jessie Buckley has described acting as "like water" to her, revealing how her passion for the craft helped her battle an eating disorder and depression during her teenage years.
From personal struggles to professional triumph
The 36-year-old actress, nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Agnes Hathaway in Hamnet, shared her journey on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs. Buckley, originally from Killarney in County Kerry and now based in Norfolk, called acting "essential" to her well-being.
Buckley, who also earned a Mercury Music Prize nomination as a singer, told presenter Lauren Laverne she doesn't regret her past struggles. "I didn't know how to be alive the way I wanted to be, and it was difficult," she said. "But I do not for a second regret it. I think I've been able to transform it and recognize our vulnerabilities as humans."
"You can't walk through life not being affected, but you can transform that into something that allows you to be more human and alive in the way that you want to be."
Jessie Buckley
A turning point in London
Buckley admitted that moving to London didn't immediately resolve her challenges. "There were moments where I was like, 'If I don't get better here, this music, this being part of theatre-I'm not going to be able to do this anymore, and I probably won't survive,'" she recalled. "And that was the thing that turned it in my head. I was like, 'I don't want to sacrifice that. This is bigger than that.' And I won."
Early career and industry pressures
Buckley first gained public attention on the BBC talent show I'd Do Anything, where she competed for the role of Nancy in a West End production of Oliver!. In a January interview with British Vogue, she discussed the criticism she faced over her appearance early in her career.
"I don't like that part of it. I think that was a young woman who's trying to discover her body and herself, like we all do. And I wish that hadn't happened."
Jessie Buckley
She added: "I was putting a brave face on, because really what I wanted to do was sing and act, and I wanted to be part of this industry. And all of a sudden, you had to be a certain kind of person. And I just wasn't-I never will be. That's just not me."
A tribute to her mother
Buckley became emotional when selecting a rendition of her mother, Marina, singing O Holy Night in church as her first track on the show. "My parents are no longer together, and she lives in Dublin, and she's writing her own story right now at 60 years of age," she said. "And I'm so proud of her."
Recognition for Hamnet
Buckley's performance in Hamnet, based on Maggie O'Farrell's novel, has earned her a Golden Globe and a BAFTA, among other accolades. She described her first time performing on stage as "like drinking water," adding, "The more I did it, the more I realized this is essential to me."
The full Desert Island Discs episode featuring Jessie Buckley is available on BBC Radio 4 from 10:00 GMT or online via the BBC website.
