At the 2026 Oscars, with history being made and emotions running high, a surprise name popped up in conversations about the hit film ‘Hamnet’: Rihanna. Joe Alwyn, one of the film’s stars, told a story that instantly stuck: a goofy, heartwarming moment from the set involving dancing, a lot of laughter, and an iconic Rihanna song.
What happened?
Per E! News, while walking the Oscars red carpet, Joe explained that even though Rihanna doesn’t appear in ‘Hamnet’, her music made a real impact. The cast (Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, and the rest) bonded over her 2011 song ‘We Found Love’. Joe said it all went down on the last day of filming. Director Chloé Zhao played the song, and suddenly, everyone, still in their Shakespearean costumes, just started dancing. It was the kind of wild, spontaneous celebration you never expect on the set of a heavy historical drama.
“I think it was the last day we were at the globe [the team] built,” Joe said, chatting with Entertainment Tonight at the Dolby Theatre. “Chloé threw on Rihanna, and everyone jumped around. It was a fun party.” Later, a TikTok of the cast, Joe, Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, and Noah Jupe, dancing in period clothes, went viral. People loved seeing that side of them, especially after watching the film’s darker moments.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,” she told the same outlet a few months back. “All these extras, everybody—it was amazing.”Chloé Zhao agrees. She told the very outlet the same month that ‘We Found Love’ actually fits the film’s spirit. “That’s one of my favorite songs because it goes, ‘We found love in a hopeless place.’ And that is the paradox of what it means to be human,” she said. “Often when we experience deep loss, grief, and hopelessness, do we find love for each other and ourselves.”She went on: “So to have been in that river of grief for 10 days in The Globe Theatre, and then you see the joy and love [the cast] have for each other? You understand why grief and loss is part of the human experience: It’s to get to the other end.”
‘Hamnet’: The story of love, loss, and grief
‘Hamnet’, directed by Chloé Zhao, is adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel. The story dives into the lives of William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes (Anne Hathaway), focusing on the aftermath of their son Hamnet’s death. At its core, it’s a deeply personal look at family, love, and tragedy: a peek into what could have inspired Shakespeare’s most famous works.In the film, Jessie Buckley stars as Agnes, Paul Mescal 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’ through the awards season
Bearing fruit to the labor put into the film, the awards season was huge for ‘Hamnet’. It racked up wins everywhere: Best Motion Picture – Drama at the Golden Globes, Outstanding British Film at the BAFTAs, and Jessie Buckley kept sweeping Best Actress. The film pulled in nearly 200 nominations and dozens of wins, earning praise from critics and industry folks alike.At the Oscars, Hamnet nabbed major nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. But the biggest moment? Jessie Buckley winning Best Actress, making history as the first Irish woman to do it.Overall, throughout the awards season, ‘Hamnet’ managed to bag over 15 awards this year, without breaking a sweat.
