Love 'All of Us Strangers' Star Paul Mescal? Check Out These 5 Roles to See Why Gay Fans Love Him

British director Andrew Haigh cast Irish actor Paul Mescal to play Andrew Scott's lover in the fantastical drama "All of Us Strangers," which recently opened in U.K. theaters everywhere. Though the film stood out during the fall film festival circuit last year, Scott and Mescal failed to earn nominations for their heart-wrenchingly sexy performances at this year's Academy Awards. However, Mescal has cemented his heartthrob status amongst his growing gay fanbase, and it's easy to see why based on some of his most memorable film and television appearances.

Paul Mescal may only be 28 years young, but the rising actor has made a splash in the past couple of years with award-worthy indie performances and a stake in the future of Hollywood blockbusters. From television fan favorites to doubling down on his softer side, Mescal has developed an awe-inspiring career based on his talent and white-hot charisma.

Here's a look at some of his best performances you'll want to check out:

"Aftersun"

No list of Paul Mescal's leading work would be complete without mentioning the coming-of-age drama "Aftersun." Charlotte Wells' look at a father-daughter relationship through the eyes of 11-year-old Sophie (Frankie Corio) as she goes on vacation with her distraught father (Mescal) at a Turkish resort elevated Mescal to new heights in 2022. Not only was he nominated for an Academy Award for his agonizing performance of a depressed father circa the late 1990s, audiences are still enamored with the Dublin native's dance moves to the song "Under Pressure."

Even though Mescal often seems silly and reserved during interviews as of late alongside "All of Us Strangers" costar Andrew Scott, his demeanor in "Aftersun" is anything but that. The film showcases Mescal's serious and lonely character in a way that speaks to depression during a time when mental health simply wasn't discussed out in the open as it is nowadays. Though dripping with sex appeal in every scene, Mescal's work in "Aftersun" will break your heart into a million pieces.

"Aftersun" is currently streaming on Showtime with Paramount+.

"The Lost Daughter"

Maggie Gyllenhaal's feature directorial debut, "The Lost Daughter," is a character piece for both Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley as they explore one woman's decisions to become an independent soul. Along the way, the idyllic Greek island setting becomes far too unmanageable for Colman's Leda to handle, but her world gets a little bit brighter when Will (Mescal) enters the picture.

Will is a sensitive and charming student who agrees to have dinner with Leda. He displays his legs in short shorts for Leda to ogle in delight. The pair flirt often, and it's easy to see why Will's magnetism would take anyone aback. Mescal fills those short shorts quite nicely, and though he isn't the centerpiece of the film's premise, Will makes for an unforgettable supporting player in Leda's life story.

"The Lost Daughter" is streaming on Netflix.

"Normal People"

American audiences are beginning to witness the rise of Paul Mescal's star in recent films, but British viewers have known about the sexy Irishman for quite some time. Due in large part to his starring role as Connell Waldron on BBC Three's "Normal People," Mescal's penchant for romantic leading parts stems from his background in television. Starring alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones in the drama series, Mescal provides depth to an enigmatic character that's seen from school days through to young adulthood.

"Normal People" lasted 12 episodes and helped launch Paul Mescal's acting career in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The theater veteran's first appearance on television was often considered the first time the actor's strength in intimacy and psychological dramas was initially explored. The role garnered so much praise that Mescal was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series at the 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards.

"Normal People" is streaming on Hulu.

"Foe"

One of 2023's headlines might have been taken up by the sexiness of Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal having a love affair in "All of Us Strangers," but the movie "Foe" introduced Mescal's range to the viewing public. Starring alongside fellow Irish actor Saoirse Ronan, the science fiction flick sheds light on a married couple's struggles when Mescal's character, Junior, must serve on a space station.

"Foe" hasn't received as much attention as "All of Us Strangers" has, but it's worth watching for Ronan and Mescal's romantic scenes alone. The film leans heavily on its science fiction elements and the future of artificial intelligence, making for an exciting watch of two strong performers.

"Foe" is streaming on Amazon's Prime Video.

Paul Mescal's Future

Paul Mescal has been relevant in entertainment for a few years, but his future roles are picking up steam in the press for what the actor might achieve at the box office very soon. Mostly sticking to independent movies, Mescal's resume is about to explode with confidence as he embarks on two very high-profile ventures that audiences seem eager to witness.

Mescal has been cast as Lucius in Ridley Scott's long-awaited sequel to 2000's Gladiator, slated for release on November 22, 2024. The epic drama co-stars many Hollywood hunks like Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn, and Pedro Pascal. Audiences should fully expect to see Mescal donning a Roman loincloth for the role in a genre that elevated Russell Crowe's star power over 20 years ago.

Though not to be released anytime soon, director Richard Linklater's adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's musical comedy "Merrily We Roll Along" is currently the talk of Hollywood purely based on Paul Mescal's casting as the lead, Franklin Shepard. Co-starring Beanie Feldstein and Ben Platt, the film has been sworn to secrecy for its audacious multi-year filming schedule, which has already gone into production and won't finish until the film's 2040 release date. The movie will be the ultimate showcase for Mescal's theatrical roots and might even prove that the actor can sing and dance his way into our hearts.