These Are the Actors Paul Mescal Calls His “Artistic Patron Saints”

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Paul Mescal has talked honestly about how difficult it’s been adjusting to fame, particularly after becoming well-known for his role in Normal People.

He recently told Vanity Fair he doesn’t enjoy the idea of being a typical leading man or celebrity. He considers being a skilled actor the highest achievement, and looks up to performers like Philip Seymour Hoffman, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Michelle Williams as his inspirations.

He also discussed feeling uncomfortable with the attention he received after intimate scenes from the show became popular, especially the focus on his shorts. Mescal is figuring out how to be open about his feelings while protecting his privacy, a challenge that arose after his very public relationship with singer Phoebe Bridgers.

Paul Mescal admits he’s not very active on social media, giving himself a ‘6 out of 10’ on how much time he spends online, but quickly revising that to a ‘5’. He doesn’t use Instagram and says that whenever he tries Twitter, it’s a bad experience.

He prefers watching YouTube, particularly Red Sox highlights during his commute. He also stays connected with friends and coworkers via WhatsApp, including those he worked with on Normal People and other shows.

I recently told Jessie how amazing it is that my closest friends are also some of my favorite actors – Josh O’Connor, Andrew Scott, Saoirse Ronan, and Daisy Edgar-Jones. I don’t often discuss acting with them; they’re just my friends, but I find them really inspiring.”

Paul Mescal has several exciting projects coming up. He’ll be appearing in the romance film The History of Sound with Josh O’Connor, and will portray William Shakespeare in Chloé Zhao’s historical drama Hamnet.

As a film buff, I’m incredibly excited about what Paul Mescal has coming up! He’s taking on the lead role of Franklin Shepard in Richard Linklater’s ambitious project, a film adaptation of Merrily We Roll Along that’s going to be filmed over the next 20 years – that’s dedication! And if that wasn’t enough, he’s also going to be playing Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes’ four-part biopic about The Beatles, with the first installment slated for release in April 2028. It’s a fantastic time to be following his career!

He’s scheduled to return to the stage in 2027 with revivals of A Whistle in the Dark at both the Abbey and National Theatres, and Death of a Salesman at the National Theatre.

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2025-11-18 18:47