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.