The BePaul Mescal’s inclusion on the best actor shortlist for the 2023 Oscars caught several people off guard when they were released in January. The Irish actor was honored for his outstanding performance in “Aftersun,” which was released by A24 in 2022. He is the only nominee for the movie in which Mescal plays a former teen father who is having a hard time connecting with both himself and his preteen daughter, as seen through her eyes (played by Frankie Corio as a child and Celia Rowlson-Hall). It is based on Charlotte Wells’ experiences, who wrote the screenplay and made her directorial debut with the movie.st Actor Oscar front-runner Paul Mescal claims he’s “not going to win,” but he’s preparing a speech just in case.
Although it’s clear that Mescal deserves the nod, he remained modest and told the Evening Standard, “Look, I’m not going to win.” Despite the fact that he is getting ready to speak, just in case! He continues, “I can basically just sit back and enjoy it, so it’s kind of low-stakes pressure, but the thrill of being nominated is still amazing. He goes on, “For instance, if I have a movie coming out and it says, “Oscar-nominee Paul Mescal,” I think, “Whoa that’s wild.” It’s just great that I’ll be there to see something that I watched as a kid. And when they announce the finest actors, a camera will be on my mother and I as we wait to applaud Colin Farrell, hopefully.”
While he might be adamant that he won’t bag the Oscar, the actor will be ensuring that he is prepared if his name is read out. “But only because I didn’t have one for the Baftas [he won Leading Actor for “Normal People” in 2021]. I was convinced I wouldn’t win.” And then some wise words from a fellow actor brought him back to reality. “I saw Michaela Coel backstage straight after and she was like, ‘Well done, well done — you should have prepared a speech’,” he laughs. “So I’m going to write one and then have it framed when I never have to use it.”
Before the nominations were released, Mescal had already received quite a few accolades for his work in “Aftersun”. He was nominated for best lead performance at the upcoming Independent Spirit Awards and the BAFTAs.
