There was outrage online after Irish actress Jessie Buckley was listed as “British” by the BBC shortly after she received her debut nomination for an Oscar yesterday.
The 32-year-old from Killarney, Co Kerry, was nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category for her performance as Leda in The Lost Daughter.
However, multiple media outlets in the UK, including BBC news and Sky News, claimed Buckley as their own as they grouped her and fellow nominee Dame Judi Dench together, labelling them both as British.
"Two British actresses in best supporting actress category, of course - Judi Dench and also Jessie Buckley," one Sky News presenter Jayne Secker said yesterday, speaking about the 2022 Oscar nominations.
The BBC also initially named Buckley as “among the British acting nominees” in their coverage, though they have since corrected the mistake online.
Furious Irish people took to Twitter to point out that Buckley was in fact Irish with RTE radio host Stephen Byrne sharing the Sky News clip, writing: “Every year, without fail”.
Another person wrote: “Being nominated for an Oscar does not automatically make one a British subject. Jessie Buckley is Irish.”
One Twitter user shared a map of Ireland with Co Kerry circled, writing: “Just with all the upcoming press coverage for the Oscars this is where Jessie Buckley is from.”
Donald Clarke, film critic for The Irish Times also tweeted his frustration, writing: “Look, I know people sometimes think we go on about this too much, but it is so infuriating and so f***ing predictable.”
Meanwhile, Jessie Buckley did not address the controversy but instead revealed that she was “in complete shock” at her Oscar nod and said it was a “wild dream come true”.
"I am in complete shock!" she said in a statement. “The Lost Daughter is so special to me.
"To be recognised for anything connected to it is just a wild dream come true. And to gorgeous Olivia Coleman and our leader and legend Maggie Gyllenhaal, I’m so lucky to share this ride with you incredible women. Thank you!”
Fellow Irish actor Ciarán Hinds also bagged an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor in the black and white film, Belfast, about the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Belfast went on to sweep up multiple nominations across the biggest and most competitive categories, including Best Director for Kenneth Branagh, Best Original Screenplay, and the biggest gong of the night, Best Picture.
