JESSIE Buckley scooped the Best Leading Actress award at tonight’s Baftas for her role in Shakespeare drama Hamnet.
Her win — which comes after her Golden Globes victory — paves the way for glory at next month’s Oscars.
Irish star Jess, 36, who looked stunning in a blue Chanel gown, is the red-hot bookies’ favourite for Best Actress.
Accepting her award at the 79th Baftas at London’s Royal Festival Hall, she said: “When I first came to London, I had nuclear-bad fake tan on, white hoopy earrings, polka-dot red skirt and dress.
“I had the audacity to say to my agent Lindy King that some day I dreamed to be a bit like Judi Dench.
“I don’t know how she thought that was even possible. But thank you, Lindy, for always encouraging me to be disobedient and curious and human. This is nuts. This really does belong to the women past, present and future that have taught me.”
She dropped the F-bomb at one point, saying she “should’ve brought my f*g thing up here” — meaning her notes.
Jessie choked up as she thanked her daughter, who was born last year, saying: “It’s the best role of my life being your mum.”
Elsewhere, I Swear star Robert Aramayo, 33, produced one of the biggest upsets of the night as he won Best Leading Actor — beating odds-on favourite Timothée Chalamet, 30, and Leonardo DiCaprio, 51.
DiCaprio’s action thriller One Battle After Another turned out to be the night’s big winner — racking up six awards from 14 nominations.
Its wins included Best Film, Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn, 65, who was not in attendance, and Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson, 55.
Vampire horror Sinners bagged three awards, including Best Supporting Actress for Wunmi Mosaku, 39.
Hamnet, whose 11 nominations set a record for the most for a film directed by a woman, in Chloé Zhao, claimed two victories — Jessie’s Best Leading Actress and another for Outstanding British Film.
Jessie could not avoid the gags from host Alan Cumming.
The Scottish actor, 61, said: “Watching the films this year was like taking part in a collective nervous breakdown.
“Let’s have a recap, shall we? Hamnet? Oh, a film about child death.”
He then joked Jessie needed to be put “on a drip” after she cried so much, adding: “Poor darling.”
