Paul Mescal, fresh from starring in 2025's 'Hamnet' and 'The History of Sound,' has announced plans to ration his upcoming projects to avoid burnout. In a Guardian interview, the actor expressed hope of staying out of the spotlight until his role as Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes' Beatles biopics releases in 2028. He emphasized the need for balance amid a demanding career.
Paul Mescal, the 29-year-old Irish actor who rose to fame with the 2020 Hulu series 'Normal People,' has built an impressive filmography in recent years. Following his Oscar-nominated performance in 2022's 'Aftersun,' he appeared in 'Carmen' and 'God's Creatures' that year, then in 'All of Us Strangers' and 'Foe' in 2023, and the 'Gladiator' sequel in 2024. His 2025 slate includes the emotionally intense 'Hamnet,' directed by Chloe Zhao where he plays William Shakespeare alongside Jessie Buckley, and the indie romance 'The History of Sound' with Josh O'Connor.
In a January 2, 2026, interview with The Guardian alongside O'Connor, Mescal revealed his intention to scale back. "I'm five or six years into this now, and I feel very lucky, but I'm also learning that I don't think I can go on doing it as much," he said. He plans to "ration" his workload after promoting 'Hamnet,' which has garnered rave reviews and Oscars buzz. "Once I've finished promoting [‘Hamnet’], I hope nobody gets to see me until 2028 when I’m doing the ‘Beatles,’" Mescal stated. "People will get a break from me and I’ll get a break from them."
This approach stems from the toll of demanding roles. "Rationing doesn’t necessarily mean less," he clarified. "It means learning that films like ‘The History of Sound’ take more out of the well. You can’t keep going back and expect to consistently deliver something you’re proud of." Mescal is set to portray Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes' four-part Beatles anthology films, co-starring Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr. He also continues filming Richard Linklater's 'Merrily We Roll Along' over two decades.
The actor misses theater and may focus there, having recently starred in a revival of Tennessee Williams' 'A Streetcar Named Desire.' In 2027, he leads 'A Whistle in the Dark' and 'Death of a Salesman' at London's National Theatre. Personal priorities factor in, too. While fearing a loss of momentum, Mescal prioritizes sustainability: "That’s the great fear. But what’s the alternative? I don’t want to resent the thing I love."
O'Connor, who appeared in four films in 2025, echoed the sentiment. "The nightmare is resenting the work," he said. "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."
