Oscar-nominated star Paul Mescal is being backed to win a second BAFTA this Sunday.
The UK awards ceremony takes place in London on Sunday evening and bookies BoyleSports are giving odds of 10/1 for the Kildare native to take home a gong.
Mescal picked up his first big win at the BAFTAs in 2021 for his role in Lenny Abrahamson’s Normal People and now fans of the actor are backing him to win the Best Actor gong for his role in Aftersun at this weekend’s awards ceremony.
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Mescal is also nominated for an Academy Award with the chances of him landing the Best Actor award on March 12th trimmed into 25/1 from 33/1, while the odds on him winning the double are a tempting 66/1 with the bookie.
Sarah Kinsella, spokesperson for BoyleSports said Mescal “hasn’t put a foot wrong since his appearance as Connell Waldron in Normal People and his odds have now shortened to win a BAFTA this weekend.
"Winning an Oscar will be harder though with Brendan Fraser and Colin Farrell also vying for an award in the same category.”
All eyes will be on the Irish this Sunday as stars of The Banshees of Inisherin are also up for 10 nominations.
The movie's writer-director Martin McDonagh and stars Kerry Condon (Best Supporting Actress), Colin Farrell (Best Actor), Brendan Gleeson, and Barry Keoghan (both Best Supporting Actor) are among the film's 10 nominations.
Separately, Daryl McCormack is up for Best Actor in the same category as Mescal for his role in comedy-drama Good Luck to You, Leo Grande. McCormack is also up for a Rising Star Award.
Mescal arrived at the Newport Beach Film Festival in London as he was honoured as ‘Artists of Distinction’ earlier this week.
He looked polished in a satin navy suit with matching flared trousers while walking the red carpet at The Londoner Hotel.
Paul posed for photos alongside his Aftersun co-star Frankie Corio, 13, who dressed in a sweet pink dress with chunky soled trainers.
He praised his co-star Frankie, saying the youngster was set to "take over the world" with her talent.
He said: “This is a crazy honour, it feels like yesterday I graduated from drama school. It feels like a short time and so much water has passed under the bridge. This lady here [Frankie Corio] is going to take over the world”.
Mescal was one of 11 stars who have been shortlisted for their work in TV and film at the Newport Beach Film Festival, as the BAFTA celebrations begin in the UK capital.
Also honoured alongside him at the festival was Gemma Chan, Lydia West, Letitia Wright, Taron Egerton, Naomi Ackie and Toby Jones.
Letitia Wright said: “You can get lost in all of this, the hard work on set, missing your family and early call times.
"Today, someone who was interviewing me asked, ‘what are you grateful for?’ and it really took me by surprise.
"All that we go through to make cinema happen, I’m grateful to be a part of that. I hope you all are too, because we get to change lives. I want you to remember that what we do has purpose.”
Micheal Ward, Dafne Keen, Lydia West, Nicola Coughlan, Aimee Lou-Wood are honoured as Breakout Honourees and Bill Nighy will be presented with an Icon Award.
Derry Girls star Nicola said: ““Thank you to Newport Beach! I have a special connection to it, because I had an imaginary relationship with Seth from The O.C.”
The ceremony which is being held in partnership with Variety, is a UK showcase of The Newport Beach Film Festival held in California.
President and CEO, Gary Sherwin explained: "Newport Beach Film Festival is invested in championing unique and extraordinary talent, and our U.K. honors have a long history of highlighting the unrivalled creative British and Irish talent working in our industry today.
"After a two-year hiatus, we are thrilled to be back in London, to celebrate the enormous contribution these actors and the British creative industry as a whole make within the global entertainment community."
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