A BANDON woman who worked with Jessie Buckley has hailed her Golden Globe success and praised the Kerry actress for her ‘humility’.

Fiona Crowley, who has been running her stage school Killarney for the past 18 years, said Jessie is just a humble person.

The talented actress won the award for her role in ‘Hamnet’ opposite Paul Mescal and is now hotly tipped to win an Oscar for the standout performance.

‘She is just brilliant at her art,’ said Fiona. ‘This success wasn’t overnight and this is 20 years in the making. I do think her humility has helped her. We are thrilled here with her success this week.’

Jessie attended secondary school in Thurles, Co Tipperary and when she finished school she worked with Fiona for a time before joining Killarney Musical Society which Fiona is also a member of.

‘She got a leading role in a production of Carousel and picked up an AIMS (Association of Irish Musical Societies) award,’ said Fiona.

Fiona said she sort of ‘took her under her wing’ after rehearsals and it was then that she applied for the BBC talent series I’d Do Anything in 2008 which sought to find a new unknown lead to play the role of Nancy in a production of Oliver in the West End.

‘She invited me over once to the BBC studios which was fantastic,’ revealed Fiona. ‘She was very young at the time but really held her own in that arena with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh, who oversaw the show.’

Jessie was voted runner-up in the reality show and then retrained with RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) in London.

‘She just learned her craft really and in fairness she has come back once or twice to the stage school,’ said Fiona. ‘Jessie was really determined and passionate and worked very hard to get where she is today.

‘She never rested on her laurels and is always looking for her next role. She also has an incredible voice and could have equally excelled in the West End where she started originally. I wasn’t surprised she won the Golden Globe and for her it’s about the journey and not what she can get out of it.’

Jessie has won praise for her standout roles in recent films including Wild Rose and The Lost Daughter, opposite Olivia Coleman and Dakota Johnson.

Fiona said the fact that Jessie thanked Polish crew member Tomasz Sternicki, who made the soup during the filming of Hamnet, during her speech sums her up perfectly.

‘I only know her as this person who gave us such lovely joy. She will be delighted that the people of Killarney are celebrating her award.’

All eyes are now on January 22nd when Oscar nominations will be announced. If nominated, Jessie could become the first Irish woman ever to win a Best Actress Academy Award.