Paul Mescal has said he will begin rationing his acting work, admitting he does not want to resent the craft he loves. The Irish actor, who shot to fame as Connell Waldron in Normal People, has become one of the industry's most in-demand stars, with roles in Gladiator II and All of Us Strangers.
In an interview with The Guardian, Mescal said he feels lucky to have enjoyed such a career but acknowledged he cannot continue taking on so many parts. "I think so, I'm gonna have to start doing that, for sure. Rationing doesn't necessarily mean less," he said. The 29-year-old explained that certain roles, such as Lionel in The History of Sound, "take more out of the well" and that an actor cannot consistently deliver performances they are proud of without a break.
Mescal, from Maynooth, County Kildare, said he misses being on stage and may dedicate a period solely to theatre. He also cited personal priorities. "I don't want to resent the thing I love. This sounds bold, but I'd rather not be on the train if that is the choice."
The actor is currently promoting Hamnet, in which he plays William Shakespeare. He hopes that after that, the public will see less of him. "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."
Mescal is set to play Sir Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes's Beatles biopic and will make his National Theatre debut in 2027 in A Whistle In The Dark and Death Of A Salesman. He previously won an Olivier Award in 2023 for A Streetcar Named Desire. He said he loved making The History of Sound, which felt like home, and wants to make more films of that nature rather than large-scale productions. He has also spoken about his desire to have a family, and is currently dating singer Gracie Abrams.
