Paul Mescal has spent the last few years solidifying his status as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after leading men. Following his breakout in “Normal People,” he earned an Oscar nomination for “Aftersun” and recently carried the torch of a massive franchise in Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II.”
With his upcoming roles as William Shakespeare in Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet” and a musician in “The History of Sound,” Mescal’s schedule has been a non-stop gauntlet of high-intensity performances. However, as the actor looks toward a future that includes Sam Mendes’ ambitious Beatles biopics, he is signaling a desperate need to slow down.
Protecting the Well: Mescal on Rationing His Workload
Reflecting on the pace of his career in an interview with The Guardian, Mescal admitted that the constant output is becoming unsustainable. He explained: “I’m five or six years into this now, and I feel very lucky. But I’m also learning that I don’t think I can go on doing it as much.” Questioned about whether this meant limiting how much he works, he answered: “I think so. I’m gonna have to start doing that. For sure.”
Source: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for BFI
The actor noted that certain projects require a level of emotional investment that cannot be endlessly replicated without a break. He clarified: “Films like ‘The History of Sound’ take more out of the well. You can’t keep going back and expect to consistently deliver something you’re proud of. What that rationing looks like, I don’t know. I miss being on stage, so I might have a time when I’m only doing theatre for a couple of years.”
Despite his desire for a hiatus, Mescal is not immune to the anxieties of an industry that often demands constant visibility. When asked about that, he confessed: “That’s the great fear. But what’s the alternative? I don’t want to resent the thing I love. Once I’ve finished promoting that, I hope nobody gets to see me until 2028 when I’m doing the Beatles. People will get a break from me and I’ll get a break from them.”
This candid admission highlights the growing conversation among young stars about the mental and physical toll of the modern Hollywood cycle. By choosing to prioritize his personal life and a return to his theatrical roots over a string of consecutive film shoots, Mescal is betting that a little absence will only make the audience’s heart grow fonder when he eventually returns to the silver screen.
