Paul Mescal Bares Soul on Grief! Cillian Murphy Stunned?

Breaking Baz: Paul Mescal, fresh off his lauded performance in 'Hamnet', recently found himself in the spotlight again, this time with a very special interviewer: none other than fellow Irishman and Oscar winner, Cillian Murphy. The pair met backstage at Picturehouse Central before a screening where Murphy would be delving into Mescal's portrayal of William Shakespeare in Chloé Zhao's adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell’s acclaimed novel.

Paul Mescal Bares Soul on Grief! Cillian Murphy St...

‘Hamnet’, for those unfamiliar, isn’t your typical Shakespeare biopic. It dives deep into the bard’s personal life, focusing on his relationship with Agnes, played with raw intensity by Jesse Buckley, and their devastating loss of their son, Hamnet. The film beautifully, and painfully, explores how profound grief can birth extraordinary art – suggesting that Shakespeare’s masterpiece, ‘Hamlet’, sprung from the very depths of his despair. It’s a powerful concept, and one that clearly resonated with both actors.

Mescal, during the conversation, discussed the challenges of portraying such an iconic figure, especially one before he became the "Bard of Stratford-Upon-Avon." He was very aware of the potential pitfalls, thankfully steering clear of the over-the-top portrayals we’ve sometimes seen. "It's well trodden," Mescal admitted with a smile, acknowledging the weight of history on his shoulders. His approach seems to have been one of grounding the character, making him human first, and a legend later. He also made a point to say he truly loved working with everyone on the film, adding jokingly he always gets nervous during press tours because he has to keep reiterating that sentiment!

Earlier in the evening, both actors attended a Sony screening of *28 Years Later: The Bone Temple*. Murphy, naturally, has a long association with the zombie franchise. The conversation took a lighter turn, with Mescal quipping that viewers might want to consider skipping the popcorn during the film, suggesting a warning label for sensitive stomachs. It was also amusing to hear them share their pet peeves about cinema etiquette! While Mescal can tolerate quiet popcorn munching, the sound of opening water bottles apparently sends him into a "f–king nightmare," mimicking the offending noise for the audience's amusement. Murphy, on the other hand, is bothered by people being served full dinners during movies, firmly advising, "Eat before you go."

The charisma and playful camaraderie between Mescal and Murphy were undeniable. You could see why they’ve both achieved such incredible success. Award-winning producer Duncan Kenworthy, the man behind romantic comedy classics like *Notting Hill* and *Love Actually*, was also in attendance, and was seen deep in conversation with Mescal after the screening. When asked if he could envision Mescal in a romantic comedy, Kenworthy simply replied, "It would be good, wouldn’t it?" adding that Mescal is "incredibly charismatic." I, for one, certainly wouldn't object to seeing Mescal try his hand at that genre. Stay tuned – we'll be posting the full video of Mescal’s conversation with Murphy soon!