Paul Mescal has revealed plans to slow down his acting schedule, saying he wants to protect his passion for the craft and avoid growing resentful of a career that has accelerated at remarkable speed.
The 29-year-old actor from Co Kildare, who became a global star during the pandemic through his breakout role as Connell Waldron in Normal People, said the rapid expansion of his filmography has come with personal and creative challenges. Since then, Mescal has gone on to star in major projects including Aftersun, Gladiator II, and a slate of upcoming prestige dramas.
Speaking in a recent interview, Mescal acknowledged that while he feels grateful for the opportunities he has received, he is increasingly aware of the toll that constant work can take.
“I’m five or six years into this now, and I feel very lucky,” he said. “But I’m also learning that I don’t think I can go on doing it as much.”
Asked whether he has started rationing his workload, the actor was candid about the need to be more selective.
“I think so. I’m gonna have to start doing that. For sure,” he said. “Rationing doesn’t necessarily mean less. It means learning that films like The History Of Sound take more out of the well.”
Mescal stars as Lionel in The History Of Sound, opposite Josh O’Connor, in a film that traces a deep emotional bond formed after the pair meet at the New England Conservatory in 1917. The story follows their lives through the aftermath of the First World War and a journey to rural Maine in 1920 to record traditional folk songs.
“You can’t keep going back and expect to consistently deliver something you’re proud of,” Mescal added.
The actor also revealed that his future may include a return to the stage, something he says he deeply misses.
“I miss being on stage, so I might have a time when I’m only doing theatre for a couple of years,” he said. “I also have different priorities in my personal life that I want to attend to.”
Above all, Mescal said he is determined to preserve his love for acting.
“I don’t want to resent the thing I love,” he said. “I’d rather not be on the train if that is the choice.”
Currently promoting Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, in which he stars alongside Jessie Buckley, Mescal joked about stepping out of the spotlight once promotion ends.
“I hope nobody gets to see me until 2028 when I’m doing the Beatles,” he said. “People will get a break from me and I’ll get a break from them.”
Mescal is set to make his British National Theatre debut in 2027, following his Olivier Award win in 2023 for A Streetcar Named Desire. The History Of Sound, directed by Oliver Hermanus, is due for UK release on January 23.
