He’s not a world-famous athlete, but fans cheer for him like he just scored the winning goal. Paul Mescal is one of the most in-demand actors on the planet right now—Oscar-nominated, critically adored, and armed with one of the most charming Irish accents you’ll ever hear.
“Not used to the screens. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the screens. I always feel like I’m in trouble when people are screaming.”
Born in the quiet town of Maynooth, Ireland, Paul grew up far from the Hollywood spotlight. But early on, he knew performance was his calling. That passion took him to The Lir Academy at Trinity College Dublin, where he trained as a professional actor. After graduating, Paul threw himself into the theatre scene and quickly built a name for himself on the Irish stage, a place he still calls his first love.
“It means discipline, it means like craft. It’s all of these things fusing together. It’s such a special, special thing.”
Then came the moment that changed everything. In 2020, he landed the role of Connell in the hit TV series Normal People. The show was an international sensation, turning Mescal into a household name almost overnight. A BAFTA win and an Emmy nomination soon followed, confirming what fans already believed, Paul Mescal was the real deal.
“No, I’m a lucky, lucky boy.”
Despite his skyrocketing success on screen, Paul stayed true to his theatrical roots. In 2023, he returned to the stage to play Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire at London’s Almeida Theatre, a dream role for the actor and a performance that earned him the prestigious Olivier Award for Best Actor.
“I mean, to get to bring this play, which is my favorite play, to like a thousand people every night. Having done it in the Almeida, it’s like career bucket list for sure. Yeah, it feels incredible. There’s a real kinetic energy every night and it feels great.”
As he collected accolades onstage, his film career was soaring too. Aftersun, a quiet and intimate drama, earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. And next, he’s stepping into full blockbuster territory, taking the lead in Ridley Scott’s much-anticipated Gladiator sequel.
“If you’d said to me in drama school that I was going to lead one of his films, I just, of course I wouldn’t have believed you. And that aside, like, he’s one of my friends and I just never thought that I’d get to say that. Yeah, it’s so nice.”
Through it all, Paul Mescal has stayed grounded. While the media sometimes links him to a few famous faces, he prefers to keep his personal life out of the spotlight. His humility, combined with raw talent, has earned him both the love of audiences and the respect of fellow actors.
“The great thing about acting is, it forces you to kind of skip the civil polite. Like, you’re just kind of thrown into the deep end and you either sink or swim.”
From a small Irish town to the global stage, Paul Mescal has proven he’s more than just a breakout star, he’s an actor with depth, dedication, and staying power. And the most exciting part? He’s just getting started.
