Jessie Buckley was just 17 when she took part in Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s TV talent show I’d Do Anything, competing for the role of Nancy in a West End production of Oliver!
It was said that Andrew had favoured Jessie for the win, but the results came down to a public vote, with Jodie Prenger being the star to pip her to the post.
Last week, Jessie reflected on her time on the 2008 talent show, claiming she was ‘brutalised and experienced unfair objectification’.
Yet fortune has since favoured the actress, 36, who on Sunday night scooped a Golden Globe for her role in Hamnet.
The War & Peace star, who is now tipped to win an Oscar for her performance, has had an unstoppable rise to fame.
While despite winning the show, Jodie, 46, has had a different fate.
Jessie Buckley (R) was just 17 when she was denied a part in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s TV talent show I’d Do Anything after narrowly being pipped to the post by Jodie Prenger (L)
Despite missing out on the top spot, Jessie, now 36, has excelled in her career and could bring home an Oscar in March after winning a Golden Globe for her role in Hamnet
Jodie,46, who now plays George Shuttleworth’s sister Glenda in Coronation Street, had a different fate (pictured on the soap with Ryan Russell)
Coronation Street star Jodie, who plays George Shuttleworth’s sister Glenda, went on to have a successful theatre career.
She starred in West End’s Annie, One Man, Two Guvnors, Shirley Valentine and Kay Mellor’s Fat Friends, before joining the cobbles in 2022.
The actress also starred as Helen in the National Theatre Production of A Taste of Honey, a performance inspired by watching early episodes of Coronation Street.
When she joined the cobbles four years ago, Jodie said it fulfilled her ‘lifelong dream’ of bagging a starring role in the soap.
She said her character will fit right into Corrie’s tradition of ‘Northern powerhouse women’.
Jodie added: ‘Oh, she’s a whirlwind. She’s bold, she’s funny and as for her choice in clothes, they’ll be on the Paris catwalks next year. I see a lot of my nan in Glenda. My nan could play the part better than me, to be honest.’
The soap star has also been open about her weight over the years, having fluctuated from a size 12 to a size 26.
She previously vowed to ‘never diet again’ after coming to the realisation that ‘life is too short to worry about it’.
Jodie (pictured left) was left speechless after hearing she won the talent show, while Jessie (pictured right) was left devastated and in floods of tears
Jodie, who was 28-years-old at the time, scooped the role of Nancy in a West End production of Oliver! (pictured with Andrew Lloyd Webber on his show)
Last week, Jessie claimed she was ‘brutalised and experienced unfair objectification’ during her stint in the talent show
Golden Globe Awards 2026 winners: AT A GLANCE
TELEVISION
Best TV Series – Drama: The Pitt
Best TV Series – Musical or Comedy: The Studio
Best Limited TV Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for TV: Adolescence
Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for TV: Stephen Graham – Adolescence
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role — TV Series, Limited series or TV Movie: Owen Cooper – Adolescence
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role — TV Series, Limited series or TV Movie: Erin Doherty – Adolescence
Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series – Drama: Noah Wyle – The Pitt
Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series — Drama: Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus
Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series — Musical or Comedy: Seth Rogen – The Studio
Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series — Musical or Comedy: Jean Smart – Hacks
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Jodie said: ‘My weight has been up and down like a bride’s nightie. Sometimes I’m alright with it and other times I’m not.
‘But I always think, “God, I wish I was as big as I was the first time I thought I was big”, you know?’
Jodie, who is from Blackpool and currently lives in Lancashire, won Sky Living’s weight loss show The Biggest Loser in 2006 and bagged a £25,000 prize for her transformation.
In six months she lost 8.5st, going from 18st 2lb to 9st 9lbs and from a size 26 to 12. She even released a weight loss DVD off the back of her success.
But she admitted she found the lifestyle impossible to keep up once the show had finished and her weight has fluctuated ever since.
She added: ‘What that show did was teach me a lot about exercise and I enjoyed the process because we did it as a group. But it wasn’t realistic because they put you in a house and you did nothing else but that, so when real life comes in again, it’s not sustainable.’
In 2009 she was a guest on The Paul O’Grady Show and she spoke openly about her time on The Biggest Loser.
Looking at a photo of herself after the weight loss, she said she believed she lost too much weight and became too thin. She added: ‘All women should have curves.’
Soap star Jodie went on to have a hugely successful theatre career, starring in West End’s Annie, One Man, Two Guvnors, Shirley Valentine and Kay Mellor’s Fat Friends
When she joined the cobbles four years ago, Jodie said it fulfilled her ‘lifelong dream’ of bagging a starring role in the soap (pictured with Tony Maudsley)
Meanwhile Jessie has had a stratospheric rise since competing on I’d Do Anything.
She doesn’t look back on the experience fondly, stating she experienced ‘unfair objectification’.
Jessie told Vogue magazine: ‘I was 17. I was in a moment of discovery. As women, it’s such unfair objectification … Back then, I was just trying to move into a space of myself.
‘I really hope that a 15, 17, whatever-age woman never has to be brutalised quite like what happened on that show. But I didn’t recognise it fully at the time. I just felt it, which was difficult.’
‘It’s bonkers, in hindsight. I was just like: “Oh my God. I get to peek behind this curtain already. I get to sing. I get to be part of this industry that I really was hoping I could be part of.”
‘And 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.’
However, her mental health was suffering behind-the-scenes. She added: ‘[I] was not well fully. I was depressed and I – just wasn’t well. There was a lot that was really messed up.’
Jessie went on to reveal she particularly suffered from ‘a lot of body shaming’ adding: ‘And bringing me to femininity school. And I was growing into my body.’
After coming second in the competition, she was offered the chance to be Jodie’s understudy in Oliver! but Jessie turned the job down by walking into the office of famed theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh.
Jessie starred in BBC productions such as War & Peace and Taboo, however it was her role as an aspiring country music singer in 2018’s Wild Rose (pictured) that was her breakthrough
Jessie pictured after she won a Critics Choice award for her life-changing Hamnet role and has now been tipped for Oscars glory
She explained: ‘I walked to his office, rang the bell and said: “Is Cameron Mackintosh here? Thank you, but I won’t be taking that job.”‘
Instead, Jessie went on to book plenty of theatre work and later moved into TV and movies making her film debut in 2017 thriller Beast.
The RADA graduate starred in BBC productions such as War & Peace (2016) and Taboo (2017), however it was her role as an aspiring country music singer in 2018’s Wild Rose that was her breakthrough.
She was nominated for a BAFTA as a result – missing out to Judy Garland star Renée Zellweger – yet managed to scoop a British Academy Scotland Award for her role.
Jessie went on to land parts in HBO miniseries Chernobyl and FX’s Fargo and in 2019, she was recognised by Forbes in its annual 30 Under 30 list.
Yet it was her role in 2021’s The Lost Daughter that truly landed her global recognition, with Jessie nominated for her second BAFTA as well as her first Academy Award – although she was pipped to the post in both ceremonies by West Side Story star Ariana DeBose.
She played the younger part of Olivia Colman’s character in the drama, embodying Leda, a woman wrought by the guilt of abandoning her young daughters in pursuit of a career in academia.
Jessie revealed the part had made her reflect on her childhood – having been raised in County Kerry, Ireland, as the eldest of five children.
Jessie plays William Shakespeare’s wife Agnes Hathaway in the historical drama, with the film charting how the couple dealt with the death of their beloved son Hamnet
She was immersed in music and creativity from a young age, with her father Tim a musician and her mother Marina a vocal coach.
Jessie saw her mother for the first time in two years at the London Film Festival premiere for The Lost Daughter – the only member of her family to have travelled over from Ireland.
Discussing the reunion, she told GQ: ‘It was really emotional. I mean, so much has happened in two years. It was so amazing to share this film with her.’
Reflecting on their relationship, she added: ‘My mum worked all her life. She’d literally give birth, and then two days later be playing at a wedding for somebody, you know, she’s always done that.
‘And it’s hard balancing being a mother, being a wife, and being your own person. What I came away from this [The Lost Daughter] was, who are we to judge what being a good mother is?’
After another critically acclaimed role – earning a Critics’ Choice nomination for Women Talking, and reuniting with Olivia Colman in Wicked Little Letters – she leant into the theme of motherhood once again with Hamnet.
Jessie plays William Shakespeare’s wife Agnes Hathaway in the historical drama, with the film charting how the couple dealt with the death of their beloved son Hamnet – a loss that inspired one of Shakespeare’s greatest plays: Hamlet.
She has received widespread acclaim for the part and, while the Oscar nominees are yet to be announced, it is believed she is a hot contender.
So far, she has dominated awards season, scooping Best Actress at the Critics’ Choice Awards and again at the Golden Globes.
Golden Globe Awards 2026 winners
FILM
Best Picture – Comedy Or Musical
Blue Moon
Bugonia
Marty Supreme
No Other Choice
Nouvelle Vague
One Battle After Another – WINNER
One Battle After Another earned the most with four including Best Picture – Comedy Or Musical
Best Picture – Drama
Frankenstein
Hamnet – WINNER
It Was Just An Accident
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama
Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams
Oscar Isaac – Frankenstein
Dwayne Johnson – Smashing Machine
Michael B. Jordan – Sinners
Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent – WINNER
Jeremy Allen White – Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy
Timothee Chalamet – Marty Supreme – WINNER
George Clooney – Jay Kelly
Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
Lee Byung-Hun – No Other Choice
Jesse Plemons – Bugonia
Timothée Chalamet is one step closer to the Oscar as he earned Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy for Marty Supreme
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama
Jessie Buckley – Hamnet – WINNER
Jennifer Lawrence – Die, My Love
Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value
Julia Roberts – After the Hunt
Tessa Thompson – Hedda
Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy
Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You – WINNER
Cynthia Erivo – Wicked: For Good
Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue
Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another
Amanda Seyfried – The Testament of Ann Lee
Emma Stone – Bugonia
Best Supporting Actress
Emily Blunt – The Smashing Machine
Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value
Ariana Grande – Wicked: For Good
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value
Amy Madigan – Weapons
Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another – WINNER
Teyana Taylor earned Best Supporting Actress for One Battle After Another
Best Supporting Actor
Benicio Del Toro – One Battle After Another
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
Paul Mescal – Hamnet
Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
Adam Sandler – Jay Kelly
Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value – WINNER
Best Original Song
“Dream as One” – Avatar: Fire and Ash
“Golden” – KPop Demon Hunters – WINNER
“I Lied to You” – Sinners
“No Place Like Home” – Wicked: For Good
The Girl in the Bubble” – Wicked: For Good
“Train Dreams” – Train Dreams
Best Original Score– Motion Picture
Alexandre Desplat – Frankenstein
Ludwig Göransson – Sinners – WINNER
Jonny Greenwood – One Battle After Another
Kangding Ray – Sirāt
Max Richter – Hamnet
Hans Zimmer – F1
Best Director – Motion Picture
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another – WINNER
Ryan Coogler – Sinners
Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein
Jafar Panahi – It Was Just an Accident
Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value
Chloé Zhao – Hamnet
Best Screenplay
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another – WINNER
Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
Ryan Coogler – Sinners
Jafar Panahi – It Was Just an Accident
Maggie O’Farrell – Hamnet
Paul Thomas Anderson took home Best Director and Screenplay for One Battle After Another
Best non-English Language Film
It Was Just an Accident
No Other Choice
The Secret Agent – WINNER
Sentimental Value
Sirât
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Best Animated Film
Arco
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle
Elio
KPop Demon Hunters – WINNER
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
Zootopia 2
Outstanding Cinematic and Box Office Achievement
Avatar: Fire and Ash
F1
KPop Demon Hunters
Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning
Sinners – WINNER
Weapons
Wicked: For Good
Zootopia 2
TELEVISION
Best TV Series – Drama
The Diplomat
The Pitt – WINNER
Pluribus
Severance
Slow Horses
The White Lotus
The Pitt took home the coveted Best TV Series – Drama
Best TV Series – Musical or Comedy
Abbott Elementary
The Bear
Hacks
Nobody Wants This
Only Murders in the Building
The Studio – WINNER
Best Limited TV Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for TV
Adolescence – WINNER
All Her Fault
The Beast in Me
Black Mirror
Dying for Sex
The Girlfriend
Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series – Drama
Sterling K. Brown – Paradise
Diego Luna – Andor
Gary Oldman – Slow Horses
Mark Ruffalo – Task
Adam Scott – Severance
Noah Wyle – The Pitt – WINNER
Noah Wyle was recognized for his work on The Pitt
Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series — Drama
Kathy Bates – Matlock
Britt Lower – Severance
Helen Mirren – MobLand
Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us
Keri Russell – The Diplomat
Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus – WINNER
Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for TV
Claire Danes – The Beast in Me
Rashida Jones – Black Mirror
Amanda Seyfried – Long Bright River
Sarah Snook – All Her Fault
Michelle Williams – Dying for Sex – WINNER
Robin Wright – The Girlfriend
Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series — Musical or Comedy
Adam Brody – Nobody Wants This
Steve Martin – Only Murders in the Building
Glen Powell – Chad Powers
Seth Rogen – The Studio – WINNER
Martin Short – Only Murders in the Building
Jeremy Allen White – The Bear
Seth Rogen earned Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series — Musical or Comedy; he’s pictured with Chase Sui Wonders
Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series — Musical or Comedy
Kristen Bell – Nobody Wants This
Ayo Edebiri – The Bear
Selena Gomez – Only Murders in the Building
Natasha Lyonne – Poker Face
Jenna Ortega – Wednesday
Jean Smart – Hacks – WINNER
Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for TV
Jacob Elordi – The Narrow Road to the Deep North
Paul Giamatti – Black Mirror
Stephen Graham – Adolescence – WINNER
Charlie Hunnam – Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Jude Law – Black Rabbit
Matthew Rhys – The Beast in Me
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role — TV Series, Limited series or TV Movie
Owen Cooper – Adolescence – WINNER
Billy Crudup – The Morning Show
Walton Goggins – The White Lotus
Jason Isaac – The White Lotus
Tramell Tillman – Severance
Ashley Walters – Adolescence
Owen Cooper made history as he earned Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role — TV Series, Limited series or TV Movie for Adolescence
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role — TV Series, Limited series or TV Movie
Carrie Coon – The White Lotus
Erin Doherty – Adolescence – WINNER
Hannah Einbinder – Hacks
Catherine O’Hara – The Studio
Parker Posey – The White Lotus
Aimee Lou Wood – The White Lotus
Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on TV
Bill Maher – Is Anyone Else Seeing This?
Brett Goldstein – The Second Best Night of Your Life
Kevin Hart – Acting My Age
Kumail Nanjiani – Night Thoughts
Ricky Gervais – Mortality – WINNER
Sarah Silverman – Postmortem
PODCASTING
Best Podcast
Armchair Expert
Call Her Daddy
Good Hang – WINNER
The Mel Robbins Podcast
Smartless
Up First
Amy Poehler earned the inaugural best Podcast award for Good Hang With Amy Poehler