Paul Mescal, an Irish-born actor, has been a highly sought-after figure in recent years. He was heralded as a rising star with a successful debut on the Hulu series “Normal People”, and it appears that 2023 has been his year to shine, as he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his emotional performance as a single father Calum in the BBC’s “Aftersun” and after a lot of research, we came up with the best Paul Mescal movies and tv shows.
Mescal’s career began on the stage, appearing in productions such as “Great Gatsby” and “The World Premiere of Asking For It,” but it was his television debut in 2020 that propelled him to the forefront of the public’s consciousness. His portrayal of Connell, a vulnerable character, has been praised for its emotional depth and sensitivity, as well as his undeniable charm and sex appeal.
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Gladiator 2
 | Gladiator 2 | |
| Genre Action, Adventure, Drama | Runtime NA | |
| Director Ridley Scott | NA | |
| Cast Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Paul Mescal | ||
Mescal was in the middle of shooting “Gladiator 2,” the follow-up to 2000’s “Gladiator,” when the actors went on strike, bringing the production to a standstill. Mescal will be playing Lucius, Commodus’ nephew, played by Joaquin Phoenix in the first movie.
Other cast members include Denzel Washington and “Stranger Things” star Joseph Quinn. Pedro Pascal will also be joining the cast. The film is set to hit theaters in November of 2024.
All of Us Strangers
 | All of Us Strangers | |
| Genre Drama, Fantasy, Romance | Runtime 1 Hour 45 Minutes | |
| Director Andrew Haigh | NA | |
| Cast Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Carter John Grout | ||
One night in an empty tower block in modern-day London, Andrew Scott’s (Andrew McTavish) life is interrupted by the arrival of a mysterious neighbor, Harry, played by Paul Mescal.
As their relationship progresses, Adam is consumed by thoughts of the past, and is drawn back to the small town where he was brought up, and the family home where his parents, Claire Foy (Anne Heche) and Jamie Bell (Jamie Bell), seem to be living, as they did on the day of their death 30 years ago.
Foe
 | Foe | |
| Genre Drama, Comedy | Runtime 1 Hour 50 Minutes | |
| Director Garth Davis | 6.0/10 | |
| Cast Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal, Aaron Pierre | ||
Mescal is teaming up with Oscar-nominated actress Saoirse Rone in the upcoming sci-fi drama “Foe”, set to be released in theaters this October. The two actors will be portraying a married couple whose lives are drastically altered when the husband is sent into space. Upon his return to Earth, he is met by a robot who will provide him with companionship.
Carmen
 | Carmen | |
| Genre Drama, Musical | Runtime 1 Hour 56 Minutes | |
| Director Benjamin Millepied | 5.9/10 | |
| Cast Marina de Tavira, Marina Tamayo, Nico Cortez | ||
Mescal and Melissa Barrera are the stars of a modern-day adaptation of the renowned opera, Carmen, starring Barrera as Carmen and Mescal as Aidan. The film, which is set to be released in April, follows Carmen as she flees her home in Spain after her mother’s murder.
After crossing an illegal border into the United States, Carmen is forced to escape with Aidan, a border patrol guard. The two eventually fall in love and embark on a romantic journey to Los Angeles. Mescal is the musical director of the film, which is a modern-day version of the classical opera.
Aftersun
 | Aftersun | |
| Genre Drama | Runtime 1 Hour 44 Minutes | |
| Director Charlotte Wells | 7.7/10 | |
| Cast Paul Mescal, Frankie Corio, Celia Rowlson-Hall | ||
Charlotte Wells’ “Aftersun”, a Scottish film directed and written by Mescal and starring newcomer Frankie Corio, is a touching and emotional exploration of fathers, daughters, and memories. The film follows father and daughter Calum and Sophie as they take a holiday in Turkey, leaving a lot of unresolved issues unresolved.
Through the use of a framing device that shows Sophie as an adult, the film serves as a reflection of Sophie’s attempt to comprehend the father she has lost. Since its premiere at the 22nd Cannes Film Festival in 2022, the film has been met with critical acclaim and has been hailed as a triumph for new British filmmaking.
God’s Creatures
 | God’s Creatures | |
| Genre Drama | Runtime 1 Hour 40 Minutes | |
| Director Saela Davis, Anna Rose Holmer | 6.0/10 | |
| Cast Seán T. Ó Meallaigh, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson | ||
Mescal has taken on a captivating and deeply emotional role in A24’s psychological drama, “God’s Creatures”, co-written by Emily Watson and directed by Anna Rose Holmer. The film follows Brian, an Irish oyster fisherman, as he returns to his hometown after a period in Australia, where he is uncertain of his whereabouts.
While at home, he is involved in a series of dubious business transactions and is subsequently accused of sexual assault by his mother, who lies to conceal the incident. The film, which debuted at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, has earned Mescal a BIPA nomination for supporting actor, continuing his long line of celebrated film roles and a streak of starring in female-directed projects.
The Lost Daughter
 | The Lost Daughter | |
| Genre Drama | Runtime 2 Hours 1 Minutes | |
| Director Maggie Gyllenhaal | 6.7/10 | |
| Cast Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson | ||
Mescal’s first feature film role found him in a star-studded cast, with Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson, and other well-known actors playing prominent roles in the film. The title of the movie, “The Lost Daughter”, was directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal and starred Johnson and Colman respectively. The plot of the film follows Leda, a university professor, on a holiday to Greece, and her connection with Nina, a young mother, whom she encounters on the beach.
In the role of Will, Will is a friend of Leda’s who is also having an affair with Nina. Despite his small role, Mescal displays an easy charm and charisma that stands out in contrast to the icy nature of Colman’s character. The film was met with positive reviews and was nominated for three Academy Awards.
The Deceived
 | The Deceived | |
| Genre Drama, Mystery, Thriller | Seasons 1 | |
| Director Tobias Beer, Lisa McGee | 5.9/10 | |
| Cast Emmett J Scanlan, Catherine Walker, Paul Mescal | ||
In 2020, Escal was cast in the Channel 5 drama “The Deceived”. The series, created by Lisa McGee and Tobias Beer, follows the relationship between Ophelia, a Cambridge undergraduate, and Michael Callaghan, a married professor. After Callaghan’s wife was tragically killed in a house fire in Donegal, Ireland, Callaghan returned to his home and Ophelia found herself following him.
Escal was cast as a supporting character in the show, playing a local fireman who discovered Callaghan’s wife’s body. Although he was not the main character, The Independent praised Escal’s performance as a highlight of the show, particularly his sleepy-eyed charm.
Drifting
 | Drifting | |
| Genre Short, Drama | Runtime 14 Minutes | |
| Rated Robert Higgins, Patrick McGivney | 7.2/10 | |
| Cast Paul Mescal, Dafhyd Flynn, Lorcan Cranitch | ||
Mescal provided the voice of the character Cian in the Irish short film, “Drifting”, directed by Robert Higgins and written by Patrick McGivney, which was released in 2020. The plot follows Cian and Pat, who have been living together since childhood in a small Midlands town, Cian is content with his life of drinking and occasional hook-ups, while Pat is fed up with the environment.
The film was featured at Galway’s Film Fleadh during the early 2020 Galway Arts Festival, followed by a number of screenings nationwide in the following months.
Normal People
 | Normal People | |
| Genre Drama, Romance | Runtime 5 Hours 39 Minutes | |
| Rated Lenny Abrahamson, Hettie Macdonald | 8.4/10 | |
| Cast Paul Mescal, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Desmond Eastwood | ||
Mescal’s breakout role came in 2020 in the drama “Normal People,” based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Sally Rooney. The series follows Connell (played by Mescal) a shy but well-liked working-class young man, and Marianne (played by Daisy Edgar-Jones) a well-liked but socially outcast young woman, as they explore intimacy, love and friendship, and misunderstandings over five years.
“Normal People” is sexy, tender, personal and heartbreaking. Mescal received critical acclaim for his performance, with critics saying he is “unbelievably good at articulating what he’s thinking” and that his understated deftness “borders on psychic projection.” In particular, Mescal was praised for his portrayal of mental health issues in young men.
Wrapping it up!
To sum up, Paul Mescal’s career has taken off in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. He’s an incredibly talented actor in both TV and film, and while he first gained attention for his performance in “Normal People,” his subsequent projects have only cemented his status as a rising star. From “Gladiator 2”, where he steps into an iconic franchise, to emotionally charged dramas like “All Of Us Strangers” and “Foe,” Mescal has a knack for immersing himself in complex characters and captivating audiences and critics. His work with respected directors and fellow actors shows his dedication to creating compelling and genuine performances. As he continues to work on diverse and cha
