Paul Mescal has been everywhere for the past few years — and now, he’s ready to step back.
In a candid Jan. 2 interview with The Guardian, the Irish actor opened up about his desire to take a break from acting after a nonstop run of high-profile roles that catapulted him from breakout star to bona fide Hollywood leading man. Since first capturing hearts as Connell in Normal People in 2020, Mescal has barely slowed down, stacking his résumé with acclaimed performances in Aftersun, Gladiator II, The History of Sound and Hamnet.
Despite his success, Mescal admitted the pace has started to take a toll.
“I’m five or six years into this now, and I feel very lucky,” Mescal said in the joint interview alongside The History of Sound costar Josh O’Connor. “But I’m also learning that I don’t think I can go on doing it as much.”
The actor explained that he’s starting to rethink how he approaches his career — not by quitting, but by being more intentional. “I’m gonna have to start [rationing myself]. For sure,” he said, before clarifying, “Rationing doesn’t necessarily mean less.”
Instead, Mescal said it’s about recognizing how demanding certain projects can be. “It means learning that films like The History of Sound take more out of the well,” he added. “You can’t keep going back and expect to consistently deliver something you’re proud of.”
At this stage, Mescal is still figuring out what that balance looks like. “What that rationing looks like, I don’t know,” he admitted. “I miss being on stage, so I might have a time when I’m only doing [theater] for a couple of years.” He also noted that he has “different priorities in my personal life that I want to attend to.”
While Mescal is currently promoting Hamnet — a role that’s already generating Oscar buzz — he’s hoping awards season will mark a turning point. “Once I’ve finished promoting that, I hope nobody gets to see me until 2028 when I’m doing The Beatles,” he said. “People will get a break from me, and I’ll get a break from them.”
O’Connor echoed the sentiment, revealing he’s also planning to step away. “I’m going to take some time off, too,” he said. “The nightmare is resenting the work. Also, the more we see of an actor, the harder it is for that actor to pull the wool over your eyes and convince you they’re someone else.”
Mescal acknowledged the fear that comes with slowing down, admitting there’s a “great fear” that taking a break could impact his momentum. Still, he’s clear on what matters most. “But what’s the alternative? I don’t want to resent the thing I love,” he said. “This sounds bold, but I’d rather not be on the train if that is the choice.”
