Person Biography:
Jessie Buckley is an Irish singer and actress, born in Killarney, County Kerry, to Marina Cassidy, a vocal coach, and her husband. She is the eldest of five children, with three sisters and a brother. Buckley attended Ursuline Secondary School in Thurles, County Tipperary, where her mother worked as a vocal coach and where she performed in school productions.
She achieved Grade eight in piano, clarinet, and harp with the Royal Irish Academy of Music and is a member of the Tipperary Millennium Orchestra. Buckley attended The Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS) workshops during the summer to improve her singing and acting.
Buckley competed in the BBC talent show I'd Do Anything in 2008, finishing in second place behind Jodie Prenger. Before the final vote, the panel voted 3-2 in her favor, with John Barrowman and Denise van Outen supporting her. She performed at various events, including Andrew Lloyd Webber's Birthday in the Park, and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra at the National Concert Hall in Dublin.
Buckley was offered the opportunity to understudy Nancy in Oliver but turned it down in favor of another production. She made her West End debut in the revival of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music at the Menier Chocolate Factory, playing the role of Anne Egerman. The show transferred to the Garrick Theatre in London's West End and closed on July 25, 2009.
Since then, Buckley has appeared in various concerts, including a Christmas concert alongside Maria Friedman and a Valentine's Day concert with Daniel Boys.
