Paul Mescal strolls through London’s Highbury Fields with the easy confidence of someone who has found his rhythm in an industry notorious for grinding down its brightest stars. Sunglasses perched casually on his face, his signature mullet catching the afternoon light, he moves with an unhurried spring in his step that speaks to a man genuinely at peace with his meteoric rise. The 28-year-old Irish actor, fresh from his starring role in HAMNET, has just wrapped a candid conversation with Rolling Stone that reveals as much about his grounded perspective as it does about his soaring career trajectory.
The meeting spot he chose—a pub called the Famous Cock—elicits a characteristic laugh from Mescal. “Ha! It’s pretty identifiable, isn’t it?” The choice feels emblematic of an actor who refuses to take himself too seriously despite now being considered one of Hollywood’s most promising talents. As he navigates the park paths, nodding respectfully to elderly gentlemen and playfully weaving around strollers, there’s something remarkably unaffected about his presence. This is a movie star who still finds joy in the simple act of walking through a neighborhood he’s grown to love.
Since breaking through with his raw, emotionally devastating performance in NORMAL PEOPLE, Mescal has built a career defined by both artistic integrity and surprising versatility. His recent turn in HAMNET showcased his ability to inhabit complex historical narratives, while earlier roles in films like AFTERSUN proved his capacity for intimate, contemporary storytelling. Each project seems carefully chosen, reflecting an actor more interested in depth than breadth, substance over spectacle.
But it’s his upcoming challenge that truly captures the scope of his ambition. Mescal is currently deep in rehearsals to portray Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes’ ambitious quartet of Beatles biopics, slated for release in 2028. The role represents not just a career pinnacle but a chance to embody one of his genuine heroes. “I’ve met him a couple of times. I adore him. I think he changed the world,” Mescal says of McCartney with an enthusiasm that transcends professional obligation.
The preparation for such an iconic role has given Mescal something he didn’t expect to appreciate: structure. “It’s a version of a weird 9-to-5, and I thought I would hate that and I actually am loving that. I do like structure a lot. I like a plan. I like rehearsals.” For an actor who admits that “everybody—everybody?—wants to be in a musical,” the McCartney project represents the perfect convergence of his passions for music, performance, and storytelling.
Mescal’s love affair with music runs deep, extending far beyond professional requirements. He speaks with genuine reverence about “music with a context,” Irish folk traditions, and the Beatles’ transformative impact on popular culture. This isn’t the casual name-dropping of a celebrity trying to appear cultured—it’s the sincere appreciation of someone who understands music as both art form and cultural force.
Taylor Swift just dropped the OPALITE music video and it`s giving major Irish vibes ☘️✨
The nearly 6-minute visual sees Domhnall Gleeson starring as Taylor`s love interest, playing two lonely souls who find each other. But here`s where it gets even better: eagle-eyed Swifties spotted cameos from Cillian Murphy and Graham Norton, making this a full-on Irish affair.
Want the full breakdown of this transatlantic collaboration? Head to our blog for all the details on how this stunning video came together. Link in bio! 🔗
The creator of DERRY GIRLS just dropped a murder mystery set at an Irish wake, and honestly? It`s the genre mashup we didn`t know we needed 🕵️♀️
Lisa McGee is back with HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN FROM BELFAST on Netflix, and if you loved how she found humor in the Troubles (Protestants! Toasters! Cupboards!), you`re going to eat this up.
Three friends reunite for their childhood bestie`s funeral, only to realize her death isn`t what it seems. Cue an eerie adventure across Ireland that`s equal parts creepy and hilarious.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
British Vogue just put Jessie Buckley on their February cover and it`s not just a magazine shoot—it`s a coronation.
Shot by Jack Davison on the windswept Norfolk coast near her home, these images are pure cinema. Sky, sea, and a woman at the exact moment her entire life is about to change.
She`s the frontrunner for Best Actress. HAMNET is destroying audiences. She`s a new mother standing at the edge of the kind of fame that alters everything.
And Vogue captured it all—the grit, the greatness, the quiet mastery that got her here.
More Jessie at irishfilmtv.com.
Caitriona Balfe has just landed her next major role in THE HOUSEKEEPER.
Set in a grand historic manor against Cornwall`s dramatic landscape, Balfe plays Danni, a housekeeper who falls into a forbidden affair with none other than writer Daphne du Maurier (played by Mackenzi Laird).
While we`re counting down to OUTLANDER`s final season premiere on Mar 6th, Balfe is already proving she`s so much more than Claire Fraser. 🔥
More Caitriona at irishfilmtv.com.
After over 20 years of mesmerizing us on screen, Saoirse Ronan is ready to call the shots—literally.
The four-time Oscar nominee is making her directorial debut with PAPER PLANE, an Irish short film she`s also writing, and honestly, this feels like the natural next chapter for someone who`s been acting since she was nine years old.
Details about PAPER PLANE are still under wraps, but with Ronan`s track record, expectations are sky-high. What are you most excited to see from her behind the camera? 🎬
More Saoirse at irishfilmtv.com.
Louis Paxton`s Sundance 2026 debut THE INCOMER stars Domhnall Gleeson, Gayle Rankin, and Grant O`Rourke in a trio that`s equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking.
Think fish-out-of-water meets generational grief, wrapped in the warmth of fireside hot chocolate. Sometimes the scariest thing isn`t a legendary Fin Man—it`s letting go of the past.
Have you ever held onto something because changing felt like betrayal?
More Domhnall at irishfilmtv.com.
🎸 THE BEATLES ARE COMING BACK TO CINEMAS.
Four films. Four perspectives. One legendary band.
Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney. Harris Dickinson as John Lennon. Joseph Quinn as George Harrison. Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr.
The first look just dropped via postcards hidden around Liverpool`s performing arts campus and honestly?
The hype is REAL. 🔥
Sam Mendes is directing all four films, each told from a different Beatle`s POV, and they`re ALL releasing on the same day—April 7, 2028.
Which Beatle`s story are you most excited to see? 👇
Irish talent is absolutely dominating the 2026 BAFTA nominations! 🇮🇪✨
Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal both scored major noms for HAMNET, with Buckley up for Leading Actress as Agnes and Mescal recognized for Supporting Actor as William Shakespeare. The film has basically swept the nominations, breaking records left and right.
But that`s just the beginning. Andrew Scott landed on the longlist for BLUE MOON, Robbie Ryan got recognized for his stunning cinematography on BUGONIA, and even Cillian Murphy appears as a producer on the STEVE longlist.
From performers to cinematographers to production companies like Element Pictures and Wild Atlantic Pictures, Irish voices are everywhere in this year`s race.
The ceremony hits London on February 22nd. The world is watching Irish cinema right now, and what a moment to witness. 🎬🔥
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Aidan Turner is about to prove the pen is mightier than the sword 🗡️
Fresh from his scene-stealing turn as Declan O`Hara in RIVALS, Turner takes on one of literature`s most dangerously charismatic figures: the Vicomte de Valmont in DANGEROUS LIAISONS.
Mar 21 to Jun 6 at @nationaltheatre - more at irishfilmtv.com.
