Hamnet

Grief manifests itself so differently from one person to the next, that even if you can begin to grasp your own grief, it is a much more difficult task to understand how others approach it. Even though they might share a deeply intimate understanding of one another, a mother might grieve in a way in which is incomprehensible to her husband, who is grieving the same loss. If Jesse Buckley wins Best Actress, it is not because she was able to illustrate a grieving mother. Rather, she was able to portray the rare moment in which one understands the language of another persons grief. Quite literally, at the beginning of the play. Annes questions "What do these words have to do with my son?". But as the play goes on, Jesse Buckley puts on a masterclass. We watch as Annes learn language of grief that her husband been speaking. The moment that will solidify her Best Actress win occurs as she reaches out for her son. In this moment, we watch her cross that bridge from anger to understanding, from grief to acceptance, and it was a truly beautiful thing. I can honestly say that this moment made me break down into an ugly cry. I know I don't often write this much, but her performance truly moved me.