Im waiting in the corridors of Londons Soho Hotel, and Paul Mescal is already 25 minutes late.
Not at all, as it turns out.
Im thoroughly charmedand convinced, not that I needed much convincing, that hes a Connell through and through.
Photo: Chris Harris © 2023 Searchlight Pictures
It offers him an opportunity he never hadto come out to them and, hopefully, be accepted.
Soon, these two worlds collide to head-spinning effect.
Vogue: I know thatAll of Us Strangersis a really personal project for Andrew Haigh.
Photo: © 2023 Searchlight Pictures
What did he share with you before you started working on it?
Paul Mescal:I loved the script and I pursued it intensely.
But he has a way of wearing all of that that isnt a burden to the actor.
Photo: Chris Harris. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2023
Because it can never really live up to someones personal experience.
But the first conversations I had with him were focused on Harry.
He mostly just asked me what I thought about the story and how I engaged with the writing.
I just loved Harry.
I felt a great deal of sympathy for him, but also I liked that hes so front-footed.
I think its a departure for me.
I was keen to lean into that.
And your screen partner Andrew Scott is just extraordinary.
Did you know him well before you worked together?
That was just the perfect climate to fall in love with Andrew as a human being.
Its a very easy thing to do.
I can see that.
What were those sex scenes like to film, as well?
That blind panic has dissipated slightly, which is good.
It never goes, because youre always around a lot of people when youre shooting those scenes.
This is totally dependent on human connection, which I think exists quite strongly in the film.
The film is also incredibly emotional.
Has it been emotional for you to see how audiences have been reacting to it?
Thats what Im discovering now, watching the film.
Have you gotten teary at any point during the press tour?
He says, How come no one found me?
Its such an awful state of affairs.
Hes definitely fighting his own demons, but to see him that vulnerable always gets me.
That bit gets me pretty consistently.
What was that like to work on?
I adore that film.
I think its one of the biggest challenges Ive ever had.
Its definitely not a naturalistic drama.
Its almost Greek in its scalewhat it asks of actors is not an easy feat.
It requires a certain kind of performance thats a high-wire act.
And to work with Garth and Saoirse…
She goes all-in in every scene.
If you cant match her, you may as well not be there.
Though she can do anythingits annoying [laughs].
I learned so much watching her.
Long may it continue!
Whatever it is, theres something happening at the moment that Im really enjoying.
And theyre some of my favorite artists.
Id work with any of them again and again and again.
And well see you opposite Jessie Buckley soon in Chloe ZhaosHamnet.
That bookits just devastating.
I think shes one of our present-day greats.
You also have Richard LinklatersMerrily We Roll Alongcoming up, which will be filmed over 20 years.
Whats it like to work on a project like that?
The thing thats different about this is that its obviously a pre-existing Sondheim musical.
Im singingthe whole shebang [laughs].
Were still in the infancy of it, to be totally honest.
I also loved seeing you inA Streetcar Named Desire.
Do you have plans to go back on stage?
Before that was probably the longest Id been away from the stage, and it was too long.
I just love it.
So, there are plans to go back in the not-too-distant future.
And Stanley Kowalski is such an iconic character.
What are the other big parts youd love to play some day?
Id love to play Biff inDeath of a Salesman.
Thats the big thing on my list that I need to do.
Like that… that will kill me.
You could be right for the part, but like…
I know therell be something left undone if I dont get to play that part.
I also want to ask you a bit about your red-carpet style.
Were now in the midst of awards season, and youre nominated for a BAFTA.
How do you approach dressing for events like that?
Gucci have been massive supporters of me over the last couple of years.
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What other brands do you love?
And I love vintage clothesI love finding pieces.
Where do you shop?
AndNo Maintenancein LAthey have great stuff and theyre very kind.
They know what I like so they kind of go like, Do you want this?
Theres now an extra wardrobe that Ive just accumulated over the last couple of months.
What would you like to do more of this year?
Which sounds like a simple thing, but can be tricky.
The [SAG-AFTRA] strike helped with that; it kind of reframed some things.
And its not about taking holidays or anything like that.
So, more of that.
