These Are the Actors Paul Mescal Calls His “Artistic Patron Saints”

Paul Mescal has been open about the pressures and challenges of fame, especially after his breakout role in Normal People.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, he admitted that he finds the idea of being a leading man or a movie star uncomfortable. “To me, an actor is the gold standard,” he said, naming Philip Seymour Hoffman, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Michelle Williams as his artistic patron saints.

He also spoke about feeling uneasy with how he was objectified after the show’s intimate scenes gained worldwide attention, turning him into a viral talking point for his casual Gaelic football shorts. Mescal is learning how to stay emotionally open while keeping his personal life private, moving away from the public scrutiny that followed his high-profile relationship with musician Phoebe Bridgers.

Mescal described his approach to social media as cautious. He rates himself a six on the “how-online-are-you” scale but quickly lowers it to a five. “I don’t have Instagram. I sometimes dip onto Twitter, which is a mistake every single time,” he said.

Instead, he enjoys YouTube, especially following the Boston Red Sox highlights on his way to work. He also keeps in touch with friends and colleagues through WhatsApp, including fellow actors from Normal People and other projects.

“I was saying to Jessie the other day, it’s crazy that our friendship group is my favorite actors in the world: Josh [O’Connor], Andrew [Scott], Saoirse [Ronan], Daisy [Edgar-Jones],” he shared. “I don’t spend time often talking to them about acting. They’re just my friends. But I’m inspired by them.”

Looking ahead, Mescal has a busy slate of projects. He will star in the romantic drama The History of Sound alongside Josh O’Connor and play William Shakespeare in Chloé Zhao’s period drama Hamnet.

He has also taken over the lead role of composer Franklin Shepard in Richard Linklater’s long-term film adaptation of the musical Merrily We Roll Along, which will be filmed over 20 years. Additionally, Mescal is set to portray Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes’ four-part Beatles biopic, with the first part expected to release in April 2028.

On stage, he will return in 2027 for revivals of A Whistle in the Dark at the Abbey Theatre and National Theatre, as well as Death of a Salesman at the National Theatre.

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