Irish-born actress Jessie Buckley was always destined for stardom. Born to her multi-skilled musician mother, Marina Cassidy, and hotel manager father, Tim, in Killarney, Ireland, she has been hailed as a "magnificent force" of a woman and performer.
The 36-year-old Fingernails star - who first burst onto screens in UK talent show I'd Do Anything - has been the talk of Hollywood over recent weeks, following her role as Agnes in Chloe Zhao's Hament.
So far, the part has not only earnt her a total of 37 nominations in the 2026 award season, including a BAFTA and Oscar nomination, but won her a Golden Globe and Critics' Choice Award. Now, with the remaining awards ceremonies looming, her parents have told HELLO! that they "are so very very proud of her" and what she has achieved.
© Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images fFrom winning an Olivier award for her portrayal of Sally Bowles in the London production of Cabaret, to now being nominated alongside the best and brightest Hollywood talents at the BAFTAs, Jessie's star couldn't be more on the rise - but that is no surprise.
The ultimate 'high achiever'
According to Ciara Higgins, Head of Artistic Programming of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Jessie was always destined to do great things in the arts, and was exceptionally talented as a child.
She told Best Quality Designer Handbag : "I think she was destined for making great art because she's Jessie Buckley. Stardom, I'd say, yes - of course, but she, she was always destined to make great art."
© Getty Images for Critics Choice"She ended up with five different musical disciplines (Irish harp, piano, clarinet, saxophone, and voice), which is really kind of… you might get a piano and another instrument that somebody who's really talented might do too. But she [did exams] in five instruments over the course of a period of years."
Ciara explained that Jessie represented Munster in the RIAM's High Achiever concert, a place for which 40,000 people across the country are eligible, showing off her "exceptional talent" for the Irish Harp, something she inherited from her mother.
"We were running a nationwide award system for the academy called the High Achiever Awards and there would have been over 40,000 people around the country eligible for that.
"We're proud to be able to say that she did her exams and she did them so prolifically over a period of years and her results were always looking back, her results were always very high," Ciara added.
"Stardom, I'd say, yes - of course, but she, she was always destined to make great art"
Unmatched work ethic
Taking on five musical instruments at such a young age is no mean feat, and Ciara explains that it's Jessie's incredible work ethic that has served her in her journey to success.
"She knew what she wanted, she worked hard to get where she went, and she seems to have built her career very, very steadily, knowing where she wants to go. She must have an extraordinary work ethic, but she also must know what she wants as well, I think."
Supportive family
If you've ever followed any Irish media around awards season, you will have seen how Jessie's parents are fit to burst whenever they are asked about her recent success, and it's Jessie's mother, Marina, whom she has to thank for her natural musical ability.
© Getty Images for BFIA teacher of the Irish Harp and voice, Ciara says there is no denying that Jessie will have been totally "immersed in the arts at home". She explains: "There were fantastic, supportive parents there as well. She must have been deeply immersed in the arts at home. Her mum must have taught privately."
"She is and seems to be an extraordinary person with exceptional values"
'Magnificent force of nature'
But it isn't just Jessie's multifaceted musical gifts that have made her the star she is now, as Ciara cites Jessie's charisma as "beautiful."
Ciara explains: "She is and seems to be an extraordinary person with exceptional values. Having somebody out there speaking with her beautiful, lyrical Irish accent. That's what I love about her as well.
© Getty Images for Santa Barbara I"It's this beautiful Kerry accent and I'm really, really proud of her because she just seems to be not only just the most magnificent force of nature as an actor, but she's just a beautiful person. It comes across in everything, every interview, everything you read about her, she just seems to be a deeply good and beautiful person. And that's what I'm proud of, that we have somebody out there representing us."
"Ireland is a nation of storytellers, and I think there it's a golden age of acting for certain"
Nation of storytellers
Ireland's incredible talent is simply undeniable when you look at the landscape of Hollywood, from Irish stars Cillian Murphy, Saoirse Ronan, Barry Keoghan and Paul Mescal, to name a few, dominating the industry across the Atlantic.
© Deadline via Getty ImagesCiara explains: "Ireland is a nation of storytellers, and I mean, I think there is just, it's a golden age of acting for certain. I hate that phrase punching above our weight. But I mean, for certain, if you look back at the last few years alone in the Oscars, between Barry Keoghan and Colin Farrell and Paul Mescal and Jessie, hopefully now. You look at Saoirse Ronan, how many nominations she's had, you know, up to the age of 31, 32."
She adds: "I think it is a nation of storytellers and an ability to, and it's the same in music. It's the expression that that's, I'm not going to say it's unique to Irishness, but we're just good at, we're just good at storytelling and she was, she was obviously very determined."
