The 'Normal People' actor admits he feels intimidated when attending Edinburgh Film Festival because he portrays a Scottish man in his new movie 'Aftersun'.
- Nov 8, 2022
AceShowbiz - Paul Mescal opened up on his method acting during the filming of his new movie "Aftersun". "I stayed in accent for this throughout filming. It's something I've always wanted to do and Charlotte gave me her blessing," he told the Sunday Post on November 6.
The "Normal People" actor, 26, revealed he and director Charlotte Wells discussed making his character Calum an Irishman so he could use his native brogue, but decided to stick with him being from Scotland. "But going to the Edinburgh Film Festival for the British premiere of 'Aftersun' made me nervous. It's like taking my accent into the lion's den," he admitted.
Paul landed a role in the film after "Normal People", based on Sally Rooney's novel about teenage lovers, won him a TV Bafta for best actor and became the BBC's most-streamed series of 2020.
"Aftersun" is based on director Charlotte's haunting memories of her last holiday with her dad and has been critically acclaimed as a masterpiece. Paul plays thirtysomething dad Calum in the film and said he fought hard for the part despite an unwritten movie rule ambitious young male actors should never play fathers early in their careers.
He added, "I read Aftersun when I was preparing for another film, 'God's Creatures', and immediately thought, 'I will do bad, bad things to be in this film.' I wasn't really aware of the politics of 'you shouldn't really be playing dads, you're 26.' I just thought that this was a fantastic character and I was going to do everything I can to play Calum."
The "bad things" Paul did to get the part included making an audition tape of himself dancing to Blur in his kitchen and teaching himself tai chi by reading "Tai Chi for Dummies". He has been tipped for Best Actor awards for his performance as an Edinburgh man taking his daughter Sophie, played by newcomer Frankie Corio, 11, as they holiday together at a budget resort in Turkey following his break-up with her mum and as he struggles financially.
