Harper’s Bazaar unveils its newest Icons in the September 2023 issue, capturing the essence of today’s trailblazers. One of these remarkable individuals is Paul Mescal, the talented Irish actor, celebrated for his work on and off the screen. His debut on the magazine’s cover, photographed by Mario Sorrenti and styled by Beat Bolliger in exquisite Gucci attire, reflects a blend of contemporary flair and seventies-inspired elegance.
Reflecting on his skyrocketing fame and public interest following Hulu’s Normal People adaptation, Mescal shares mixed feelings. “If I’m going to make TV shows like Normal People, there’s going to be an appetite from the world,” he acknowledges. But he also reveals the pain of public scrutiny: “The stuff that hurts is the personal stuff. It’s nobody else’s business and should never be commented on because it’s indecent. And it’s unkind… It’s the entitlement to the information that people expect that just drives me f**king mad.”
Paul Mescal for Harper’s Bazaar
The actor’s journey has not been without its challenges, and Mescal remembers his early career’s discomfort with auditions: “I didn’t buy into what I was having to say. I remember auditioning for some TV show. It was like a two-line self-audition. I was going in for some f**king ridiculous dialogue.” Yet, his raw talent was unmistakable, attracting attention from fellow actors, such as Saoirse Ronan, who humorously recalls first noticing him in an Irish commercial for Denny’s sausages.
In his upcoming film Foe, directed by Garth Davis and based on Iain Reid’s book, Mescal is set to share the screen with Saoirse Ronan. He provides insight into his role, exploring the nuanced feelings of a “tired relationship,” a sensation he admits he’s unfamiliar with. “The feeling of being in a relationship and being in love, to me, sometimes can feel quite like a horse with blinders on. That’s such a wonderful feeling. The work in this film was finding out what it’s like to be in a tired relationship,” Mescal explains.
Lastly, Mescal contemplates the transient nature of fame and his desire for longevity in his craft: “I feel like the game that I’m playing now is a young person’s game,” he muses. “And I’m young, but I want to be able to do this all the time.”
