Ready to explore the meteoric rise of Academy Award nominee Paul Mescal? The Irish actor guides us through his transformative roles, from his breakout performance as Connell in NORMAL PEOPLE (2020) – which earned him an Emmy nomination and instant critical acclaim – to his devastating turn as a young father in Charlotte Wells’ AFTERSUN (2022), a performance that garnered him his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

Mescal’s raw talent shines through in Andrew Haigh’s deeply moving ALL OF US STRANGERS (2023), and now he steps into one of cinema’s most anticipated roles in Ridley Scott’s GLADIATOR 2 (2024). Join GQ’s cover star as he reflects on his craft, chronicling his journey from the intimate portrayal of first love in NORMAL PEOPLE to commanding the epic scale of the GLADIATOR sequel.

Beyond his Oscar nomination, Mescal’s work has earned him numerous accolades, including a BAFTA nomination for AFTERSUN a British Independent Film Award for Best Lead Performance, and the BAFTA TV Award for Leading Actor for NORMAL PEOPLE. His meteoric ascent from stage actor to leading man has established him as one of his generation’s most compelling performers.