Jessie Buckley: Hamnet star says she was 'brutalised' on TV talent show I'd Do Anything

Jessie Buckley: Hamnet star says she was 'brutalised' on TV talent show I'd Do Anything

Actress Jessie Buckley has opened up about her experience on the 2008 BBC talent show *I’d Do Anything*, which marked her rise to public attention. At just 17, Buckley was the runner-up in the competition, which sought an actress to play Nancy in a West End revival of *Oliver!*. Reflecting on her journey, she described feeling “brutalised” and subjected to “unfair objectification” during a crucial time when she was still learning to find her own identity.

In an interview with *Vogue*, Buckley detailed the struggles she faced on the show, including instances of body shaming and harsh critiques aimed at her femininity. She recalled being urged by a choreographer to act more “ladylike” and to master dancing in high heels, pressures that compounded the difficulties she was already grappling with as a young woman coming to terms with her body and self-worth. Buckley said, “I was not fully well” and battled depression throughout the competition. She expressed hope that no young woman would have to endure similar treatment, even though she herself did not fully recognize the extent of the mistreatment at the time.

The BBC responded by highlighting the care policies it has developed and strengthened over the years to protect participants in its productions, emphasizing that any concerns raised are handled with “the utmost care and seriousness.” Following her time on *I’d Do Anything*, Buckley chose to decline an offer to understudy the winner, Jodie Prenger, opting instead to forge her own path in theatre with a role in Stephen Sondheim’s *A Little Night Music* at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory.

Jessie Buckley’s career has since flourished, with her recent performance in *Hamnet* positioning her as a strong contender for major acting awards including the Golden Globes, Baftas, and Oscars. Directed by Chloé Zhao and based on Maggie O’Farrell’s novel, the film explores the death of William Shakespeare’s 11-year-old son—a tragedy that some believe inspired the playwright’s *Hamlet*. Buckley stars alongside Paul Mescal in this critically acclaimed production, demonstrating how far she has come since her early days on reality television

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