Oscars 2026: All Eyes On Jessie Buckley & Rose Byrne For Best Actress Race

As final voting closes for the Academy Awards, the Best Actress race appears to center on two standout performances: Jessie Buckley and Rose Byrne. Buckley has been the clear front-runner since the festival debut of 'Hamnet', earning major wins throughout awards season, including victories at the Golden Globe Awards, the BAFTA Awards, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. However, Byrne has emerged as a strong contender thanks to her acclaimed role in 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You', which earned her a Golden Globe win in the comedy or musical category.