Photo: Ari & LouisePaul Mescalis graduating from lovelorn teenager to in-demand indie star.The breakout star ofNormal People, 26, recently hit the Toronto International Film Festival with three notable films, including his Irish gothic dramaGod’s Creatures(out Sept. 30) and the emotionalAftersun(Oct. 21), in which he plays a young father taking his daughter on a poignant summer vacation.InGod’s Creatures, Mescal plays an accused rapist who tests the devotion of his mother (Emily Watson). The film is an abrupt turn from his previous work, Mescal tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue.“The film’s discussing every man’s relationship to their masculinity and how toxic that can be. Even if you’re playing somebody who is considered a bad person, I feel like it’s the actor’s responsibility to do something that surprises people,” he says.In next month’sAftersun, Mescal takes on his first fatherhood role, something he knows might surprise fans who last saw him play a teen in the Hulu hit series based on Sally Rooney’s bestselling novel.“Of course the last thing that most people have seen isNormal People,” he acknowledges. But he shot the pandemic cult-hit series in 2019, and for the actor,Aftersunwas again an opportunity to play “against type, consciously so.“A24Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free weekly newsletterto get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.Early next year, the Irish actor will hit the screen inBenjamin Millepied’sCarmen, a film adaptation of the famous opera in which the star dances and sings oppositeIn the Heights' Melissa Barrera.Playing a former Marine who suffers from PTSD, Mescal says his biggest challenge was “transitioning from playing somebody who was a teenager like inNormal Peopleto a man. You can throw on top of the dancing and singing and boxing… It was a blast.“With his indie career on the rise, is there a universe he’d like to join, like Marvel or DC?“If I get to keep making indie films for the rest of my life, I’ll be a happy man,” he says. But there is oneTom Cruisefranchise he’d be game for. “Something likeTop Gun: Maverickwould be more interesting to me,” he says. “I love that movie.“The actor,who went Instagram officialwith musicianPhoebe Bridgerslast year, recently brought his girlfriend to the Telluride Film Festival, where they got to see other films together too.“We do have the same taste, but it’s also really fun to take your partner to something which is not their world,” Mescal says. “It’s cool to sit in at theWomen Talkingworld premiere with your partner and get to experience that together and talk about it after.”
Photo: Ari & Louise
Paul Mescalis graduating from lovelorn teenager to in-demand indie star.The breakout star ofNormal People, 26, recently hit the Toronto International Film Festival with three notable films, including his Irish gothic dramaGod’s Creatures(out Sept. 30) and the emotionalAftersun(Oct. 21), in which he plays a young father taking his daughter on a poignant summer vacation.InGod’s Creatures, Mescal plays an accused rapist who tests the devotion of his mother (Emily Watson). The film is an abrupt turn from his previous work, Mescal tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue.“The film’s discussing every man’s relationship to their masculinity and how toxic that can be. Even if you’re playing somebody who is considered a bad person, I feel like it’s the actor’s responsibility to do something that surprises people,” he says.In next month’sAftersun, Mescal takes on his first fatherhood role, something he knows might surprise fans who last saw him play a teen in the Hulu hit series based on Sally Rooney’s bestselling novel.“Of course the last thing that most people have seen isNormal People,” he acknowledges. But he shot the pandemic cult-hit series in 2019, and for the actor,Aftersunwas again an opportunity to play “against type, consciously so.“A24Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free weekly newsletterto get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.Early next year, the Irish actor will hit the screen inBenjamin Millepied’sCarmen, a film adaptation of the famous opera in which the star dances and sings oppositeIn the Heights' Melissa Barrera.Playing a former Marine who suffers from PTSD, Mescal says his biggest challenge was “transitioning from playing somebody who was a teenager like inNormal Peopleto a man. You can throw on top of the dancing and singing and boxing… It was a blast.“With his indie career on the rise, is there a universe he’d like to join, like Marvel or DC?“If I get to keep making indie films for the rest of my life, I’ll be a happy man,” he says. But there is oneTom Cruisefranchise he’d be game for. “Something likeTop Gun: Maverickwould be more interesting to me,” he says. “I love that movie.“The actor,who went Instagram officialwith musicianPhoebe Bridgerslast year, recently brought his girlfriend to the Telluride Film Festival, where they got to see other films together too.“We do have the same taste, but it’s also really fun to take your partner to something which is not their world,” Mescal says. “It’s cool to sit in at theWomen Talkingworld premiere with your partner and get to experience that together and talk about it after.”
Paul Mescalis graduating from lovelorn teenager to in-demand indie star.
The breakout star ofNormal People, 26, recently hit the Toronto International Film Festival with three notable films, including his Irish gothic dramaGod’s Creatures(out Sept. 30) and the emotionalAftersun(Oct. 21), in which he plays a young father taking his daughter on a poignant summer vacation.
InGod’s Creatures, Mescal plays an accused rapist who tests the devotion of his mother (Emily Watson). The film is an abrupt turn from his previous work, Mescal tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue.
“The film’s discussing every man’s relationship to their masculinity and how toxic that can be. Even if you’re playing somebody who is considered a bad person, I feel like it’s the actor’s responsibility to do something that surprises people,” he says.
In next month’sAftersun, Mescal takes on his first fatherhood role, something he knows might surprise fans who last saw him play a teen in the Hulu hit series based on Sally Rooney’s bestselling novel.
“Of course the last thing that most people have seen isNormal People,” he acknowledges. But he shot the pandemic cult-hit series in 2019, and for the actor,Aftersunwas again an opportunity to play “against type, consciously so.”
A24
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free weekly newsletterto get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.
Early next year, the Irish actor will hit the screen inBenjamin Millepied’sCarmen, a film adaptation of the famous opera in which the star dances and sings oppositeIn the Heights' Melissa Barrera.
Playing a former Marine who suffers from PTSD, Mescal says his biggest challenge was “transitioning from playing somebody who was a teenager like inNormal Peopleto a man. You can throw on top of the dancing and singing and boxing… It was a blast.”
With his indie career on the rise, is there a universe he’d like to join, like Marvel or DC?
“If I get to keep making indie films for the rest of my life, I’ll be a happy man,” he says. But there is oneTom Cruisefranchise he’d be game for. “Something likeTop Gun: Maverickwould be more interesting to me,” he says. “I love that movie.”
The actor,who went Instagram officialwith musicianPhoebe Bridgerslast year, recently brought his girlfriend to the Telluride Film Festival, where they got to see other films together too.
“We do have the same taste, but it’s also really fun to take your partner to something which is not their world,” Mescal says. “It’s cool to sit in at theWomen Talkingworld premiere with your partner and get to experience that together and talk about it after.”
source: people.com
