In a captivating glimpse behind the curtain of one of this year's most acclaimed British films, director Chloe Zhao has revealed the unique emotional release rituals employed by the cast and crew of Hamnet. The Oscar-winning filmmaker shared a joyous throwback video on Instagram this week, showing stars Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal leading exuberant dance sessions between takes of the historical tragedy.
Dancing Through Tragedy
The footage captures a particularly memorable moment following the completion of principal photography at the replica Globe Theatre. Buckley and Mescal, still dressed in their 16th-century costumes, can be seen carrying their young co-star Jacobi Jupe onto the stage to thunderous applause from the assembled cast and crew. What follows is a raucous, joyful dance to Rihanna's We Found Love, with even director Zhao herself joining in at the front of the crowd.
Emotional Release Through Movement
In a detailed caption accompanying the video, Zhao explained the philosophical approach behind these "Dance Takes" as she termed them. "We believe emotion is energy in motion," the director wrote. "So to discharge, we move, we breathe, we make sound and we dance, so we are never too scared to feel our rawest emotions and we don't store them in our bodies."
The filmmaker described these group dances as a form of "shared catharsis" that proved essential for a cast dealing with the heavy subject matter of Shakespeare's family tragedy. The film, based on Maggie O'Farrell's 2020 novel, follows William Shakespeare (played by Mescal) and his wife Agnes Hathaway (portrayed by Buckley) as they navigate the devastating loss of their 11-year-old son.
Critical Acclaim and Oscar Buzz
Hamnet has been generating significant awards season attention since its UK release this month, with particular praise directed at Buckley's performance. The 36-year-old actress has already collected both a Critics' Choice Award and a Golden Globe for her work, with many industry observers predicting Oscar nominations could follow.
The film's success appears rooted not just in its powerful performances but in the unusual preparation methods employed by Zhao. Buckley recently revealed to British Vogue that she and Mescal participated in a tantric intimacy workshop before filming began, designed to help them connect "on a bodily level" before tackling their emotionally demanding roles.
Unconventional Preparation Methods
"The first three minutes of it were excruciatingly embarrassing," Buckley admitted about the workshop where actors had to symbolically represent male and female energy. "But after that, you're like: 'We've been a penis and a vagina in front of each other, so let's just go.'"
This unconventional approach clearly paid dividends, with critics universally praising the palpable chemistry between the two leads. Mescal himself has spoken glowingly about his co-star, telling Vogue that Buckley is "the person I'd like to be when I grow up, in terms of her confidence in her artistry [and] her lack of interest in the shiny things that this career can offer people."
Personal Transformations
The emotional journey of making Hamnet appears to have had profound personal effects on the cast. Buckley credits her portrayal of Agnes Hathaway with inspiring her to become a mother in real life. The actress fell pregnant just days after wrapping the film and has since welcomed a daughter with her husband, mental health worker Freddie.
"I think when I was filming Hamnet, I deeply wanted to become a mother myself," Buckley revealed. "And it was such a gift to move through this woman and her motherhood and her love and her loss before I became a mother myself."
A Lasting Legacy
As the dance video continues to circulate online, Zhao encouraged fans to create their own versions, writing: "If it moves you, join us! Dance with us. Share your version with us. However it looks, wherever you are. We can hold together, in community, what is too hard to hold on our own."
The director concluded her post with a nod to both the film's subject and the musical inspiration for their on-set celebrations: "This is why Shakespeare wrote his plays and why he brought people together in the Globe. We hope we made him proud! Thank you always @badgalriri."
With its blend of critical success, awards attention, and now these revealing behind-the-scenes insights into its unique production process, Hamnet continues to demonstrate how innovative approaches to filmmaking can yield extraordinary artistic results while fostering genuine human connection among those who create it.
