Paul Mescal has hinted that he might start slowing down his career after years of tirelessly working on projects.
The Irish actor, 29, stars opposite Jessie Buckley in the hotly-tipped Hamnet, an adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel which is generating plenty of Oscars buzz.
Mescal is also currently promoting wartime romance The History of Sound, in which he plays the lover of Josh O’Connor’s character.
While discussing his packed schedule, he acknowledged that he’s “very lucky” to be five or six years into starring in hit films.
However, Mescal told The Guardian: “But I’m also learning that I don’t think I can go on doing it as much.
“I miss being on stage, so I might have a time when I’m only doing theatre for a couple of years. I also have different priorities in my personal life that I want to attend to.”
The Normal People star - who is dating singer Gracie Abrams - reflected on every actor’s struggle between staying relevant and taking breaks from filming to decompress.
“That’s the great fear,” he said. “But what’s the alternative? I don’t want to resent the thing I love.”
He is currently prepping for a months-long awards season campaign and promotional trail for Hamnet.
The Aftersun actor said: “Once I’ve finished promoting that, I hope nobody gets to see me until 2028 when I’m doing the Beatles. People will get a break from me and I’ll get a break from them.”
Mescal plays Lionel in The History of Sound which follows his character’s relationship with David (played by Josh O’Connor) after the pair meet in 1917 at the New England Conservatory, and following the First World War, before travelling together to record folk songs in rural Maine in winter 1920.
Directed by Oliver Hermanus, The History Of Sound will be released in UK cinemas on January 23.
He will make his National Theatre debut in 2027, staring in productions of A Whistle In The Dark and Death Of A Salesman.
It comes after he won an Olivier Award in 2023 for a stage adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire, before starring in Gladiator II as an arena fighter who tries to bring down two maniacal emperors.
