Paul Mescal and Gracie Abrams Step Out in Style at the 98th Oscars
Irish actor Paul Mescal and his girlfriend, singer Gracie Abrams, turned heads with a romantic display on the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre for the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday. The couple, who have been dating since 2024, typically maintain a low profile, but they embraced the spotlight for this glamorous event.
Fashion Highlights from the Red Carpet
Mescal, aged 30 and known for his role in Hamnet, showcased sophisticated style in a black suit featuring silk lapels and a loosely tied bow-tie. Abrams, 26, dazzled in a beaded crop top paired with a matching skirt, accessorised with a flowing chiffon scarf that added an elegant touch to her ensemble.
Hamnet's Oscar Nominations and Snubs
Mescal attended the Oscars in support of his award-winning film Hamnet, a historical drama adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel. The movie focuses on Agnes, portrayed by Jessie Buckley, and the tragic loss of her 11-year-old son, Hamnet, to the bubonic plague. Despite critical acclaim, Mescal was notably snubbed for a Best Supporting Actor nomination.
Hamnet received several nominations for the 98th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Jessie Buckley, and Best Director for Chloé Zhao. This recognition highlights the film’s impact in a competitive year.
Record-Breaking Nominations and Key Contenders
The 98th Oscars, hosted for the second consecutive year by Conan O’Brien, saw Ryan Coogler’s horror film Sinners lead with a record-breaking 16 nominations, the most in Academy Awards history. It is among ten films vying for Best Picture, alongside titles like Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, and One Battle After Another.
In the Best Actor category, Michael B. Jordan of Sinners faces stiff competition from Timothee Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent). Sinners is set in 1930s Mississippi and follows twin brothers, both played by Jordan, confronting supernatural evil upon returning home.
Best Actress and Supporting Categories
Jessie Buckley is the frontrunner for Best Actress for her role in Hamnet, competing against Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I Would Kick You), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), and Emma Stone (Bugonia).
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another earned 13 nominations, including Best Director, Best Actor for DiCaprio, and Supporting Actor nods for Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn. This black comedy action-thriller depicts a former revolutionary forced out of hiding to rescue his daughter from a corrupt military officer.
The Best Supporting Actor category also features Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Delroy Lindo (Sinners), and Stellan Skarsgard (Sentimental Value).
Complete List of Oscar 2026 Winners
Below is the full list of winners for the 98th Academy Awards across key categories:
- Best Picture: Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners, Train Dreams
- Best Actress: Jessie Buckley - Hamnet, Rose Byrne - If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Kate Hudson - Song Sung Blue, Renate Reinsve - Sentimental Value, Emma Stone - Bugonia
- Best Supporting Actress: Elle Fanning - Sentimental Value, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas - Sentimental Value, Amy Madigan - Weapons - WINNER, Wunmi Mosaku - Sinners, Teyana Taylor - One Battle After Another
- Best Actor: Timothee Chalamet - Marty Supreme, Michael B. Jordan - Sinners, Leonardo DiCaprio - One Battle After Another, Ethan Hawke - Blue Moon, Wagner Moura - The Secret Agent
- Best Director: Chloe Zhao - Hamnet, Josh Safdie - Marty Supreme, Paul Thomas Anderson - One Battle After Another, Joachim Trier - Sentimental Value, Ryan Coogler - Sinners
- Best Supporting Actor: Benicio Del Toro - One Battle After Another, Jacob Elordi - Frankenstein, Sean Penn - One Battle After Another, Delroy Lindo - Sinners, Stellan Skarsgard - Sentimental Value
Other notable categories include Best Original Screenplay, Best International Feature Film, and technical awards like Best Editing and Best Original Score, with Sinners and One Battle After Another dominating many lists.
The ceremony celebrated a diverse range of films, from historical dramas to horror and comedy, underscoring the vibrant state of cinema in 2026.
