Paul Mescal shared insights into his role as William Shakespeare in Chloé Zhao's film Hamnet during an interview at Picturehouse Central in London. The movie, based on Maggie O’Farrell’s novel, explores the Bard's relationship with his wife Agnes and their grief over losing their son. Mescal emphasized avoiding clichés and focusing on the personal tragedy that inspired Hamlet.
In a candid backstage conversation with Deadline's Baz Bamigboye ahead of a Q&A with Cillian Murphy, Paul Mescal discussed his preparation for Hamnet. The film stars Jessie Buckley as Agnes Shakespeare and delves into the couple's meeting, marked by intense passion, and their struggle after the death of their son Hamnet in 1596. Mescal researched bereavement online, noting statistics on how few marriages survive such a loss. "The main thing to me was that they still managed to find a way back to each other," he said, highlighting the emotional core of the story.
Mescal avoided portraying Shakespeare as the iconic bard, drawing instead from the novel's grounded perspective. "I don’t think Shakespeare was making plays to show off his talent. I think he was making plays and making work to communicate something about the world," he explained. He described his character's energy as rooted and animalistic, influenced by his stage role as Stanley Kowalski during auditions. As an Irish actor, Mescal once felt Shakespeare belonged to the British, but found freedom in the role under Zhao's direction with a predominantly Polish crew.
The production brought joy amid its heavy themes, with Mescal recalling the relief of capturing authentic emotions on set. He praised collaborators like Buckley, calling the experience cathartic. Mescal also mentioned upcoming projects, including The History of Sound with Josh O’Connor and a segment in Sam Mendes' Beatles films featuring Paul McCartney. The interview underscored Mescal's commitment to acting over stardom, echoing George Clooney's views on maintaining craft amid fame.
