Irish actor Paul Mescal has suggested a significant shift in his professional trajectory, indicating he may begin to scale back his prolific film schedule. The 29-year-old star, currently in the midst of a demanding awards season campaign, confessed he misses the stage and feels the need to protect his creative energy.
Rationing Roles for Artistic Integrity
In a candid joint interview with his The History of Sound co-star Josh O'Connor for The Guardian, Mescal reflected on being five or six years into his career. While expressing gratitude for his success, he stated, "I don't think I can go on doing it as much." When asked if this meant rationing future roles, he confirmed, "I think so. I'm gonna have to start doing that. For sure."
He elaborated that this approach isn't necessarily about doing less work, but about recognising the emotional toll of certain projects. "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," Mescal explained.
Theatre Calls and Personal Priorities
The actor, who shot to fame in the television adaptation of Normal People, revealed a strong pull back to live performance. "I miss being on stage, so I might have a time when I'm only doing theatre for a couple of years," he shared. He also cited "different priorities in my personal life that I want to attend to" as a factor in his decision.
Mescal is in a relationship with pop singer Gracie Abrams, 26. The couple, first linked in 2024, have publicly supported each other's work, attending premieres and concerts. Mescal has previously described the relationship as "deeply precious".
Current Projects and Future Hiatus
Mescal's comments come as he promotes two major film releases. He stars opposite Jessie Buckley in Chloé Zhao's film adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's novel 'Hamnet', which has generated significant Oscars buzz ahead of its UK and Ireland release on 9 January 2026. Concurrently, he is promoting the wartime love story The History of Sound with Josh O'Connor.
O'Connor endorsed his co-star's rationing idea, stating, "I'm going to take some time off, too." Mescal expressed a hope that "nobody gets to see me until 2028", when he will be promoting his role as a young Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes's ambitious quartet of Beatles biopics. The interconnected films, also starring Harris Dickinson, Joseph Quinn, and Barry Keoghan, are due for release in April 2028.
"I don't want to resent the thing I love," Mescal concluded, signalling a conscious move to prioritise longevity and passion over relentless output in his acting career.
