On January 24, the nominations for the 95th Oscars were announced and fans have been going crazy over the nomination of Paul Mescal. In six weeks, the best actors and filmmakers from across the world will come together to celebrate their most outstanding achievements. Mescal is a first-time nominee and is up for Best Actor. He’s up against Brendan Fraser, Colin Farrell, Austin Butler and Bill Nighy.
Who is Paul Mescal?
Paul Mescal is a 26-year-old Irish actor who was born in Maynooth. He attended the Lir Academy, which he graduated from in 2017. He went on to perform in lots of plays in Ireland such as The Great Gatsby and Asking for it. The actor has only had a few TV and film appearances, so to be nominated for an Oscar is a huge achievement.
What is he best known for?
Mescal first appeared on our screens back in 2020 in the critically acclaimed BBC drama Normal People. The drama was based on a book of the same name by Sally Rooney. He played Connell Waldron and starred alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones, who played Marianne Sheridan.
The show quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Mescal’s portrayal of Connell earned him widespread praise from critics and audiences and a BAFTA Television Award for Best Leading Actor.
The first feature film he appeared in was The Lost Daughter, which premiered in 2021. He starred alongside Olivia Colman. Most recently, the role that got him the Oscar nomination, was securing the lead in Aftersun. The drama revolves around Sophie and her father Calum (played by Mescal), a divorcee who must care for his daughter while coping with loneliness and mental health. The film got incredible reviews and did really well.
To top it off, Mescal is now playing Stanley Kowalski in a revival of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire. You can see the show at London’s Almeida Theatre and it’s running until February.
How did people react to his nomination?
Described as a “golden boy” by the Independent, Mescal’s popularity is huge. His quirky roles have landed him a dedicated fanbase, young and old. The whole of Twitter and TikTok are definitely rooting for him and can’t wait to see what his future has in store.
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