Actress Jessie Buckley has opened up about the uncomfortable pressure she faced as a teenager on a BBC talent show, admitting she now regrets how producers tried to push her into appearing more “womanly” while she was still discovering herself.
The Irish star was just 17 years old when she appeared on the BBC series I’d Do Anything in 2008. The programme aimed to find a new actress to play Nancy in the West End revival of Oliver!, launching Buckley into the spotlight while she was still in her teens.
Looking back at the experience, Jessie revealed she felt uneasy about certain expectations placed on her at the time — particularly being asked to wear high heels in order to look more mature on stage.
Speaking candidly, she explained that part of the experience has never sat comfortably with her. She said she didn’t like that aspect of the show and admitted she had been trying to navigate her own identity and body as a young woman growing up.
Jessie reflected that she had simply wanted to sing, but suddenly felt as though she was expected to become a certain type of person. She admitted she felt she had been putting on a brave face during the show, even though the situation didn’t feel entirely right.
The actress said she wishes that moment had unfolded differently, explaining that she was still figuring herself out at the time — something everyone goes through while growing up.
Now 36, Buckley shared further reflections while appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, where she spoke about watching footage of her younger self. She admitted it was emotional to look back, saying she realised how young and vulnerable she really was during the competition.
She explained that the opportunity meant everything to her back then, describing her younger self as “so little” and “so raw” as she tried to chase her dream.
Despite those early pressures, Jessie has gone on to become one of Britain and Ireland’s most respected performers. She won a BAFTA earlier this year and has also earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her role in Hamnet at this month’s Oscars.
The actress also recently experienced a life-changing moment away from the screen. While filming, she even kept the fake baby bump used on set to help her understand what pregnancy might feel like.
That curiosity would soon become reality — as Jessie and her husband, former TV producer Freddie Sorensen, welcomed a baby girl late last year.
