California: The 98th Academy Awards delivered memorable victories on Sunday night, with Michael B. Jordan and Jessie Buckley taking home the top acting honours while Paul Thomas Anderson’s film “One Battle After Another” secured the coveted Best Picture award. (Oscars 2026)
Michael B. Jordan earned the Best Actor Oscar for his powerful dual performance in the supernatural drama “Sinners.” The film, set in 1930s Mississippi and blending blues culture with elements of horror, featured Jordan portraying twin brothers Smoke and Stack. His performance helped the film achieve a historic 16 Academy Award nominations.
With this win, Jordan becomes only the sixth Black actor to receive the Best Actor Oscar, joining the ranks of Will Smith, Forest Whitaker, Jamie Foxx, Denzel Washington and Sidney Poitier. The 39-year-old actor, who has also built a reputation as a producer and director, was born in Santa Ana, California, and raised in Newark, New Jersey. Over the years, he has gained recognition through both television and film, including his early roles in popular TV series before moving into major Hollywood productions. (Oscars 2026)
Jordan’s career has long been closely linked with filmmaker Ryan Coogler. The two first collaborated on the critically acclaimed film “Fruitvale Station” in 2013 and later worked together on projects such as “Creed” and “Black Panther.” Their partnership continued with “Sinners,” which ultimately brought Jordan his first Academy Award for acting.
In the Best Actress category, Irish performer Jessie Buckley won her first Oscar for her emotionally intense portrayal of Agnes, the wife of William Shakespeare, in the historical drama “Hamnet.” Directed by Chloe Zhao, the film explores the private life of the legendary playwright and the devastating loss of his young son.
Buckley, who had already been widely tipped as a favourite for the award, previously won several major honours during the awards season, including trophies at the Critics Choice Awards, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards. She is also believed to be the first Irish actress to win the Best Actress Oscar.
During her acceptance speech, Buckley dedicated the award to mothers, noting that the ceremony coincided with Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom. She described the recognition as a tribute to the strength and resilience of women across generations.
“Hamnet,” based on Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling historical novel, focuses on the emotional aftermath of the death of Shakespeare’s 11-year-old son. The film portrays how the tragedy may have influenced the creation of the playwright’s famous work “Hamlet.” Actor Paul Mescal appears in the film as Shakespeare, while Buckley’s performance as Agnes has been widely praised for its emotional depth.
The night’s top honour, Best Picture, went to “One Battle After Another,” a sweeping American story that blends humour with themes of political resistance across generations. The win marked the first Academy Award victory for director Paul Thomas Anderson.
The ceremony also highlighted a major moment for Warner Bros., the studio behind both “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners.” The triumph came at a significant time for the company, which recently agreed to a major sale deal with Paramount Skydance, a move that has sparked discussions about potential changes across the film industry.
Overall, the 2026 Oscars celebrated powerful storytelling and standout performances, with Jordan and Buckley delivering career-defining moments on Hollywood’s biggest stage.
