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Paul Mescal

Actor and executive producer

Born 1996

Paul Mescal is an Irish actor whose career combines intimate screen dramas, major studio films and theatre. Born in Dublin and raised in Maynooth, he attended Irish-language schools and initially hoped to pursue Gaelic football. Playing the Phantom in a school musical drew him toward acting. After graduating from The Lir Academy in 2017, he immediately played Jay Gatsby at Dublin's Gate Theatre and built a stage career in Dublin and London. His television breakthrough as Connell in Normal People led to a BAFTA; Aftersun brought an Academy Award nomination, and his Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire won an Olivier. Screen work includes The Lost Daughter, God's Creatures, Carmen, All of Us Strangers, Foe and Gladiator II. In 2025 he starred in and executive-produced The History of Sound, and played William Shakespeare in Hamnet. His announced work includes Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes' Beatles films, Linklater's continuing Merrily We Roll Along and a 2027 repertory stage season in Death of a Salesman and A Whistle in the Dark.

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Connected people

ConnectionDaisy Edgar-JonesNormal People co-star; the television breakthrough shared by both actors.

ConnectionFrankie CorioPlays Sophie opposite Mescal's Calum in Aftersun; both discussed their preparation with BFI.

ConnectionAndrew ScottPlays Adam opposite Mescal's Harry in All of Us Strangers.

Paul Mescal at the Toronto International Film Festival, September 7, 2025. — Profile image · Jay Dixit / WikiPortraits / CC BY-SA 4.0

NewProject29 Sept 2026

Linklater reports the next Merrily filming block

A September report of the director's Zurich interview says the next section of the long-running musical is planned within months. Mescal plays Franklin Shepard; a theatrical release date remains unconfirmed.

Latest Index

2026

NewsChecked against a primary source or trusted newsroom.

ScopeOnly attributable updates about Paul Mescal's work and public record.

Project
An announced return to repertory theatre
Mescal is set for Death of a Salesman and A Whistle in the Dark at the National Theatre in 2027. The Abbey confirms the latter's October Dublin transfer and his Michael Carney role.
9 Sept 2026Producing theatre announcement and independent theatre report
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News
Abrams describes their London home
In her cover interview, Gracie Abrams describes the home she shares with Mescal and their gatherings with friends.
14 Aug 2026Direct Abrams cover interview
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Broadcast
The actor interviews Paul McCartney
Universal Music announces the released Amazon conversation about McCartney's The Boys of Dungeon Lane, pairing the musician with the actor cast to portray him.
27 May 2026Official label announcement
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Project
An announced reunion with Jessie Buckley
Mescal and Buckley are attached to Benh Zeitlin's Hold On to Your Angels, an outlaw romance set in South Louisiana. The announced project remains separate from completed credits.
7 May 2026Trade report quoting the filmmaker and producers
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Project
Mendes expands the Beatles ensemble
The Beatles' official site publishes Sony's casting announcement for Sam Mendes' intersecting films, which retain a planned April 2028 cinema release.
3 Dec 2025Apple Corps-hosted studio announcement
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Project
From Maggie O'Farrell's novel to Hamnet
Focus Features explores the adaptation's origins. Mescal plays William Shakespeare alongside Jessie Buckley's Agnes in Chloé Zhao's film.
28 Nov 2025Official studio feature
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News
A cover interview about music and acting
Mescal discusses The History of Sound, Hamnet and the musical preparation for his McCartney role, connecting his film work with his interest in performance and music.
30 Sept 2025Long-form direct interview
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Project
Archive: building Aftersun's father-daughter bond
Mescal and Frankie Corio tell BFI how time together before filming helped create Calum and Sophie's relationship in Charlotte Wells' drama.
18 Nov 2022Direct co-star interview
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Selected Credits

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Year	Title	Role
2025	The History of SoundfilmIMDb	Lionel
2025	The History of Soundexecutive producerIMDb	Executive producer
2027	Death of a Salesman (announced)announced stage production	Biff Loman
2027	A Whistle in the Dark (announced)announced stage production	Michael Carney
2028	The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event (announced)announced film series	Paul McCartney

Timeline

1996—2027

1996Born in Dublin; raised in Maynooth, County Kildare.
School yearsIrish-language schooling and Gaelic football preceded a school production of The Phantom of the Opera and his decision to train as an actor.
2017Graduates from The Lir Academy's acting course.
2017Plays Jay Gatsby and the Prince in The Red Shoes at Dublin's Gate Theatre.
2018Works in Asking for It, The Plough and the Stars and Rough Magic theatre productions.
2020Normal People brings his screen breakthrough as Connell; he also appears in The Deceived and the Rolling Stones' Scarlet video.
2021Wins BAFTA's television Leading Actor award for Normal People.
2021Makes his feature-film debut in Maggie Gyllenhaal's The Lost Daughter.
2022Plays Calum opposite Frankie Corio in Charlotte Wells' Aftersun.
2023Wins the Olivier Best Actor award for A Streetcar Named Desire.
2023Plays Harry opposite Andrew Scott in All of Us Strangers.
2024Leads Ridley Scott's Gladiator II as Lucius.
2024Hosts Saturday Night Live on December 7.
2025Stars in The History of Sound and earns an executive-producer credit.
2025Plays William Shakespeare in Hamnet.
2025Receives a Theatre World Award for A Streetcar Named Desire at Brooklyn Academy of Music.
2026Receives a BAFTA Supporting Actor nomination for Hamnet.
2026Interviews Paul McCartney for Amazon while preparing the announced Beatles films.
2027 (announced)Plans a repertory season as Biff Loman in Death of a Salesman and Michael Carney in A Whistle in the Dark, with the latter transferring to Dublin.

Linklater reports the next Merrily filming block

Latest Index

An announced return to repertory theatre

Abrams describes their London home

The actor interviews Paul McCartney

An announced reunion with Jessie Buckley

Mendes expands the Beatles ensemble

From Maggie O'Farrell's novel to Hamnet

A cover interview about music and acting

Archive: building Aftersun's father-daughter bond