98th Academy Awards Highlights

The 98th Academy Awards took place on March 15th at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, celebrating films from 2025.

The acceptance speeches were a mix of humor and heartfelt moments, sprinkled with political remarks. Javier Bardem raised eyebrows with his comment on Palestine, while host Jimmy Kimmel took jabs at Trump and Melania. Gun violence and anti-war sentiments also made their way into the evening’s discussions.

However, one acceptance speech seemed to catch the audience off guard and took away from the perceived relatability of the host, as noted by Allie Beth Stuckey. This was Jessie Buckley’s speech.

When accepting the Best Actress award for her portrayal of Agnes, William Shakespeare’s wife in “Hamnet,” Buckley embraced the theme of motherhood. She reflected on her own journey and achievements, but ultimately celebrated becoming a mother for the first time.

After thanking her co-stars and the team behind “Hamnet,” she turned to her husband, Freddie Sorensen, with whom she’s welcoming their first child this year. “Fred, I love you. I love you. You’re the best dad. You’re my best friend. I want to have 20,000 more babies with you,” she exclaimed, emotions flooding her voice.

She then addressed her 8-month-old daughter, Ayla, saying, “I love you and I love being your mom. I can’t wait to discover life next to you.” Buckley added, “Today is Mother’s Day in the UK, so I would like to dedicate this speech to the beautiful turmoil in a mother’s heart.”

Allie expressed her surprise at Buckley’s speech focused on motherhood. “I’ve never heard an Oscar speech dedicated to that angle,” she remarked, considering its rarity.

She recalled Michelle Williams’ speech at the 2020 Golden Globes, where Williams emphasized women’s choices regarding motherhood, which felt like a contrast. “It’s definitely possible to balance being a mother with achieving one’s goals,” Allie noted, though she added that motherhood itself might carry its own unique rewards.