This generation’s manic pixie dream boy

Lisette Reed analyses Paul Mescal’s rise to fame

FROM his heart-breaking performance as Connell Waldron in the BBC adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People to his most recent role as Calum in Aftersun, it is evident that Paul Mescal will be one of the most influential actors of the 2020s. His works shine a light over stigmatised subjects, such as men’s mental health, sex and relationships and it is this portfolio which has led to his recent success.

cal’s performance apart. Many viewers find comfort in his portrayal of Connell and this sincerity is expressed in some of his other works.

Mescal made his film debut in 2021 as Will in The Lost Daughter, starring alongside Olivia Colman and Dakota Johnson, and has since performed in Aftersun as the conflicted, young dad Calum. Aftersun begins with his daughter’s reminiscence on times with her father and ultimately captures the troubles Calum and his daughter navigate together. This is another prominent example of Mescal using his platform for good to communicate the memory of childhood and familial relationships.

for themselves. Though he may be known to some as Bridgers’ fiancée, it’s clear from his collection of works that Paul Mescal possesses a raw and intense talent, which the industry hasn’t experienced for a very long time.

Since the start of his acting career in 2017, Mescal has worked on many interesting and memorable projects and has many promising works on the horizon. Currently, he is starring in the sold out A Streetcar Named Desire show at the Almeida Theatre, where he is playing Stanley Kowalski. Paul Mescal will be one of the most successful actors of our generation and will continue to create meaningful works, exploring a range of shunned subjects.

Born in County Kildare, Ireland, Paul Mescal attended the Lir Academy at Trinity College Dublin, later graduating with a BA in Acting. From then on, he began acting in Dublin theatres with roles such as Jay Gatsby, from The Great Gatsby, and a range of other performances. Though Mescal had worked on many productions in Dublin, a role which shot him into the spotlight was his part in 2020’s Normal People. Starring alongside Daisy Edgar Jones, the two depicted the on and off relationship between Marianne and Connell, whilst also delving into topics such as miscommunication in relationships and male anxiety. Paul Mescal’s portrayal of Connell’s sensitivity and mental health struggles made him an incredibly relatable character as subjects like these are rarely shown on screen in such a raw way — many shows romanticise mental health as an aesthetic, rather than a real-life struggle. This is what sets Normal People and Paul Mes-

Throughout his time acting, Mescal has been nominated for and won a range of awards, including the British Academy Television Awards Best Actor award for Normal People, as well as a Prime Time Emmy Award. Moreover, Mescal has starred in music videos too, including his fiancé Phoebe Bridger’s ‘Saviour Complex’ video. The video was directed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and therefore the combination of all these creatives brought in a range of demographics; lovers of Fleabag, Normal People and Phoebe Bridgers united for this collaboration, resulting in Mescal’s career further being boosted. It can be argued that Paul Mescal is the manic pixie dream boy of this generation and with his engagement to Phoebe Bridgers, this statement could not be any truer. Whilst this relationship has been idolised by their fans, the media has also branded them as the current ‘it’ couple. This newfound recognition may have boosted his celebrity status further, but it has also encouraged more to view his works and to experience his talents