At the 2026 Oscars, with history being made and emotions running high, a surprise name appeared in interviews about the hit film ‘Hamnet’: Rihanna. Joe Alwynone of the stars of the film, told a story that immediately stuck: a sweet and joyful moment on the set, dancing, lots of laughter and an iconic Rihanna song.
what happened
E! News, while walking the red carpet at the Oscars, Joe explained that while Rihanna doesn’t appear in ‘Hamnet’, her music was a real influence. Actors (Jessie BuckleyPaul Mescal and the rest) linked up with 2011’s ‘We Found Love’. Joe said it all fell apart on the last day of filming. Director Chloé Zhao played the song, and suddenly everyone, still in Shakespearean costumes, started dancing. It was a wild and spontaneous celebration never expected on the set of a heavy historical drama.
“I think it was our last day on earth [the team] built,” Joe said, chatting with Entertainment Tonight at the Dolby Theater. “Chloé dropped Rihanna, and everybody jumped. It was a fun party.” Later, a TikTok of the actors, Joe, Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal and Noah Jupe, dancing in period clothes went viral. People loved seeing that side of them, especially after seeing the darker moments of the film.Jessie Buckley, who plays Agnes, said she can’t forget how Rihanna’s voice turned the set into a “rave”. “The whole place started vibrating,” he told the same outlet a few months earlier. “All those extras, all of them, it was amazing.”Chloé Zhao agrees. In the same month, he said that “We Found Love” is in line with the spirit of the film. “That’s one of my favorite songs because it says, ‘We found love in a hopeless place.’ And that’s the paradox of what it means to be human,” he said. “Often when we experience deep loss, grief, and hopelessness, we find love for each other and for ourselves.”He continued: “So you’ve been in that river of grief for 10 days at The Globe Theatre, and then you see the joy and the love. [the cast] be for each other? You understand why grief and loss are part of the human experience: it’s about reaching the other end.’
‘Hamnet’: a story of love, loss and grief
Directed by Chloé Zhao, ‘Hamnet’ is adapted from the best-selling novel by Maggie O’Farrell. The story delves into the lives of William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes (Anne Hathaway), focusing on the aftermath of the death of their son Hamnet. At its core, it’s a deeply personal look at family, love and tragedy: a look at what might have inspired Shakespeare’s most famous work.In the film, Jessie Buckley plays Agnes, Paul Mescale plays Shakespeare and Joe Alwyn rounds out the main cast. ‘Hamnet’ has been praised for its emotional power, stunning visuals and especially Buckley’s performance, which really stood out.
‘Hamnet’ during awards season
Paying off for his work on the film, the awards season was huge for ‘Hamnet’. It scored wins everywhere: Best Picture Drama – at the Golden Globes, Best British Film at the BAFTAs, and Jessie Buckley went for Best Actress. The film garnered nearly 200 nominations and dozens of wins, garnering praise from critics and industry insiders alike.At the Oscars, Hamnet received major nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. But the biggest moment? Jessie Buckley won Best Actress, the first Irish woman to make history.All in all, during the awards season, ‘Hamnet’ managed to bag more than 15 awards this year without breaking a sweat.
