Paul Mescal Says He May Step Back From Gay Roles, But…
The king of the sad boys speaks out
Last week Vanity Fair dropped its annual Hollywood Issue and this year they skipped the awards season buzz to focus on the “new generation of leading men”. It is a refreshing pivot. Instead of the stoic tough guys of yesteryear, this new crop, including Jeremy Allen White, Michael B. Jordan, and our current Sexiest Man Alive, Jonathan Bailey, brings a softer energy to the screen. They are secure, sensitive, and more than happy to play queer characters.
Leading the pack is Paul Mescal. The 29-year-old Irish actor has built an entire brand on playing “sadbois” and many of those roles happen to be LGBTQIA+. You know the ones. From his breakout in Normal People to the devastating Aftersun (which earned him his first Oscar nod), Mescal has mastered the art of the tear-jerker.
Then came All Of Us Strangers, where he broke hearts again alongside Andrew Scott. And right now, you can catch him in The History Of Sound on Mubi, where he camps in the wilderness with Josh O’Connor. The common thread? He is usually sad and he is usually playing queer.
But in his Vanity Fair interview, Mescal suggests this era might be ending. “I don’t know if I’ll have more to say with roles like Will or Lionel or Connell or Harry,” he told the publication, listing his characters from Hamnet, The History Of Sound, Normal People and All Of Us Strangers.
“I recognise that they are in conversation with each other and there’s obviously some sort of artistic compulsion that I feel to be in that territory. And I don’t know if I’m finished with that yet, but I might be finished with that.”
Is Shakespeare the original queer icon
We hear you Paul but we are not entirely convinced you are hanging up the sad boy shoes just yet. His latest film Hamnet hits select theatres tomorrow and sees him taking on the role of William Shakespeare. Directed by Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao and co-starring Jessie Buckley, the film explores how the Bard and his wife Agnes cope with the death of their young son.
While Hamnet is not explicitly an LGBTQIA+ film, historians have long debated Shakespeare’s sexuality. Many scholars agree there is substantial evidence he may have been bisexual. So while the film might not centre on a romance between men, it sounds to us like Mescal is technically stepping into queer shoes once again. We certainly aren’t complaining.
What lies ahead for our favourite Irishman?
Looking further ahead, Mescal is set to film the ambitious four-part Beatles project slated for 2028. He will play Paul McCartney in a biopic that dedicates a full film to each band member.
Does this mean a break from the “sad gay” typecasting? Maybe. Although if you know your Beatles lore, you might recall the rumours about a certain group activity involving McCartney and John Lennon. So perhaps even that role will not be entirely straight and narrow.
For now, you can catch The History Of Sound streaming on Mubi. All of Us Strangers is on Hulu and Aftersun is available to rent on Prime Video and Apple TV. Hamnet opens in select theatres on November 26 before expanding wide on December 12.
