Jessie Buckley has described her experience on the 2008 BBC talent show I'd Do Anything as brutalising, citing body shaming and objectification during her teenage participation. The actress, now starring in the film Hamnet, reflected on the challenges she faced at age 17 while competing for the role of Nancy in a West End production of Oliver!. She finished as runner-up, behind winner Jodie Prenger.
Jessie Buckley's entertainment career launched on the BBC talent show I'd Do Anything in 2008, when she was 17 years old. Hosted by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the series sought unknown performers for the roles of Nancy and Oliver in a West End revival of the musical Oliver!. Buckley vied for the part of Nancy but came in as runner-up to Jodie Prenger, who later appeared in Coronation Street and various touring theatre productions.
In a recent interview with Vogue, Buckley opened up about the ordeal, stating she was “not well fully” and dealing with depression at the time. “There was a lot that was really messed up,” she said, highlighting “a lot of body shaming and bringing me to femininity school. And I was growing into my body. I was 17. I was in a moment of discovery. As women, it’s such unfair objectification.”
She recalled specific instances, including footage of a male choreographer instructing: “We’ve got to get her to be much more ladylike, it’s a real challenge… Come on, get your womanly head on.” A critique of her posture by judge Denise van Outen resulted in lessons from Chicago dancers on walking provocatively in six-inch heels. Reflecting on her younger self, Buckley remarked: “I look back at it and I feel like, ‘God, you’re so brave.’ I don’t know if I’d have that courage now. And I don’t know if that was kind of innocence or ignorance.”
Buckley was offered the chance to understudy Prenger but declined. The BBC responded by referencing its duty of care policies, which have improved over time, and emphasized that complaints are handled “with the utmost care and seriousness.”
These reflections come as Buckley stars opposite Paul Mescal in the historical drama Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao, where Mescal plays William Shakespeare and Buckley portrays his wife Agnes. The film explores the loss of their son Hamnet, which inspired Shakespeare's Hamlet. Producer Steven Spielberg attended the London Film Festival premiere, praising Zhao's work.
