In just three years, Paul Mescal rose from the silver screen’s Normal People to an Oscar-nominated performance in Aftersun.
The 26-year-old Irish actor rose to prominence after playing the understated heartthrob Connell Waldron in the BBC’s lockdown hit, which was penned by Sally Rooney.
What began as humble beginnings became an international sensation and the impetus for Paul-mania around the world.
First, his character’s silver chain erupted into pandemonium, and then the actor found himself booking gigs left and right as the road to Hollywood got increasingly arduous.
Aftersun, for which he received a nomination for best actor in a leading role, had spectators in tears as they watched his character Calum develop a relationship with his daughter Sophie.
Let’s connect the dots and stroll through his spectacular climb to stardom one swoon-worthy scene at a time, ahead of his Oscar debut.

Life before the limelight
Paul graduated from Trinity College Dublin’s The Lir Academy in 2017 and had participated in a number of plays and theatre productions in the Irish city before landing his breakthrough role in 2020.
After graduating from college, he played the title character in The Great Gatsby and went on to play the Prince in a theatre version of The Red Shoes at Dublin’s Gate Theatre.
In 2018, the critically acclaimed actor made the transition from stage to television, starring in a commercial for a sausage company.
The infomercial showed Paul eating the morning staple before being encouraged to pack his bags and travel.
A 2020 breakthrough – Normal People
Laughing all the way to the Emmys
Following an incredible year, the newcomer was nominated for an Emmy Award.
He was nominated for outstanding lead actor in a limited series or film, but he was defeated by Mark Ruffalo for his work in I Know This Much Is True.
Daisy Edgar-Jones, the actor’s Normal People co-star, wrote on social media at the time, ‘I could not be more proud of these two utterly incredible people, working with you both has been one of the greatest joys of my life.’
Paul Mescal x Dermot Kennedy
The actor astonished everyone when he linked up with Irish singer Dermot Kennedy to play a virtual show in June 2020, swapping scripts for high notes.
The duo performed a small-scale show at London’s Natural History Museum.
A thrilling performance in The Deceived
The Oscars and beyond with Aftersun
In just three years, Paul has received a coveted Oscar nomination for his performance in Charlotte Wells’ dark Aftersun.
The drama is set in the early 2000s and follows an 11-year-old Scottish girl who travels to a Turkish resort with her father (Paul) on the eve of his 31st birthday.
On Tuesday, it was announced that Paul will compete for the golden statue against fellow Irishman Colin Farrell for his role in The Banshees of Inisherin, Elvis star Austin Butler, Brendan Fraser for The Whale, and Living’s Bill Nighy.
Oscar nominations 2023
Here are the nominations for the 95th Oscar Awards:
Best motion picture of the year
All Quiet on the Western Front
Avatar: The Way of Water
The Banshees of Inisherin
Elvis
Everything Everywhere All at Once
The Fabelmans
Tár
Top Gun: Maverick
Triangle of Sadness
Women Talking
Performance by an actor in a leading role
Austin Butler in Elvis
Colin Farrell in The Banshees of Inisherin
Brendan Fraser in The Whale
Paul Mescal in Aftersun
Bill Nighy in Living
Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Brendan Gleeson in The Banshees of Inisherin
Brian Tyree Henry in Causeway
Judd Hirsch in The Fabelmans
Barry Keoghan in The Banshees of Inisherin
Ke Huy Quan in Everything Everywhere All at Once
Performance by an actress in a leading role
Cate Blanchett in Tár
Ana de Armas in Blonde
Andrea Riseborough in To Leslie
Michelle Williams in The Fabelmans
Michelle Yeoh in Everything Everywhere All at Once
Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Angela Bassett in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Hong Chau in The Whale
Kerry Condon in The Banshees of Inisherin
Jamie Lee Curtis in Everything Everywhere All at Once
Stephanie Hsu in Everything Everywhere All at Once
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
Applause from Tell It like a Woman, Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
Hold My Hand from “Top Gun: Maverick, Music and Lyric by Lady Gaga and BloodPop
Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Goransson; Lyric by Tems and Ryan Coogler
Naatu Naatu from RRR, Music by M.M. Keeravaani; Lyric by Chandrabose
This Is A Life from Everything Everywhere All at Once, Music by Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski; Lyric by Ryan Lott and David Byrne
Achievement in directing
The Banshees of Inisherin – Martin McDonagh
Everything Everywhere All at Once – Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
The Fabelmans – Steven Spielberg
Tár – Todd Field
Triangle of Sadness – Ruben Östlund
Best animated feature film of the year
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
The Sea Beast
Turning Red
Achievement in cinematography
All Quiet on the Western Front
Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths
Elvis
Empire of Light
Tár
Achievement in costume design
Babylon
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Elvis
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris
Best documentary feature
All That Breathes
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed”
Fire of Love
A House Made of Splinters
Navalnys
Best documentary short subject
The Elephant Whisperers
Haulout
How Do You Measure a Year?
The Martha Mitchell Effect
Stranger at the Gate
Achievement in film editing
The Banshees of Inisherin
Elvis
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Tár
Top Gun: Maverick
Best international feature film of the year
All Quiet on the Western Front – Germany
Argentina, 1985 – Argentina
Close – Belgium
EO – Poland
The Quiet Girl – Ireland
Achievement in makeup and hairstyling
All Quiet on the Western Front
The Batman
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”Elvis
The Whale
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
All Quiet on the Western Front – Volker Bertelmann
Babylon – Justin Hurwitz
The Banshees of Inisherin – Carter Burwell
Everything Everywhere All at Once – Son Lux
The Fabelmans – John Williams
Achievement in production design
All Quiet on the Western Front
Avatar: The Way of Water
Babylon
Elvis
The Fabelmans
Best animated short film
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
The Flying Sailor
Ice Merchants
My Year of Dicks
An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It
Best live action short film
An Irish Goodbye
Ivalu
Le Pupille
Night Ride
The Red Suitcase
Achievement in sound
All Quiet on the Western Front
Avatar: The Way of Water
The Batman
Elvis
Top Gun: Maverick
Achievement in visual effects
All Quiet on the Western Front
Avatar: The Way of Water
The Batman
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Top Gun: Maverick
Adapted screenplay
All Quiet on the Western Front
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Living
Top Gun: Maverick
Women Talking
Original screenplay
The Banshees of Inisherin
Everything Everywhere All at Once
The Fabelmans
Tár
Triangle of Sadness
Aftersun’s success is hoped to be reproduced in Paul’s latest project God’s Creatures, which will see him return to his home nation alongside Emily Watson and Aisling Franciosi.
The film was shot in Co Donegal and premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last May, focusing on secrets and lies in a picturesque Irish fishing community.
The 95th Oscars will air live on ABC on Sunday March 12, 2023.