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Paul realised that he wanted to start acting at the age of 16, where he achieved the lead role of 'Phantom' in his school performance of 'Phantom of the Opera.'

This success gave him the confidence to audition to The Lir Academy at Trinity College Dublin, which he completed and received a Bachler of Arts in Acting in 2017.

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After finishing his degree, Mescal was offered a role in 'The Great Gatsby' and starred as the titular Jay Gatsby, at the Gate Theatre in Dublin.

He also played the Prince in a contemporary version of the Hans Christian Anderson story 'The Red Shoes.'

The following year (2018), Paul preformed in the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in the world premier of 'Asking for It' by Louise O'Neill.

He also had the lead role in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' for the Kilkenny Arts Festival and 'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man' for the Dublin Theatre Festival.

Paul finished his Dublin theatre season by preforming in the Gaiety Theatre as Mad Padraic in the play 'The Lieutenant of Inishmore'

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In 2018, Mescal made his London stage debut in at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, playing Lieut. Langon in 'The Plough and the Stars.' This was a provocative play to the understanding of Ireland in 1916.
*Paul started his career outside of Ireland but still playing an Irish character.

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Paul Mescal's debut on TV was initiated by his role as Connell Waldron in the BBC drama 'Normal People.' This show was based on the 2018 novel by Sally Rooney and premiered on BBC Three in the UK and Hulu in the US. This led to a international sensation.

The series goes into depth about first loves and the difficulties that brings whilst. It also showcases the struggles teenagers go through when choosing decisions for their future, stressful exams, leaving school, the switch up into university life and 'the real world.'

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Character Connell Waldron on left and Paul Mescal playing for Kildare GAA

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The role of Connell Waldron was very diverse and expressed a very deep emotional character. However, one of the more simplistic attributes about the teenager was a strong love for Gaelic football. Most young Irish males grow up playing this sport and aim to play for their county one day in the future. This wasn't far from Mescal's true self as he himself played growing up and was on the path to playing seriously before his acting career took off. This created a "fetishization of the GAA shorts" (McIntyre, 2023) and made Mescal to be massive heartthrob to many viewers as the 'jock' which can be recognised globally.

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The heart throb fan culture continued with an Instagram page of over 130,000 followers just for the characters chain.

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With the show being set in Ireland, the Irish landscapes and recognisable various locations and lifestyles portrayed through the show 'Normal People' was another reason for it's growth to becoming an international hit. There were staples of Irish youth culture being utilised throughout the narrative such as the possibility of leaving Ireland that made the show engaging for the country and viewers around the world.

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The character he played portrayed a stereotypical Irish teenage boy, who is emotionally unavailable and confused with his future.
Paul perfectly projected a stereotypical 'Irish lad' with dreams and this complements the story fantastically. The author of the original novel Sally Rooney said "he looked like how I had imagined Connell when I was writing the book" and this is evident with how well he plays the character.
The character that Mescal created visually brought a lot of relatability of young people and the struggles of young adulthood.

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BBC Three's Normal People | Official Full Length Trailer

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The show was released during the first lockdown when many people had nothing to do and binge culture was on the rise. Binge watching amplifies the storyline as there is no breaks, allowing the viewers to get sucked into the narrative and the character obsession. During the quarantine period, many people were stripped from their daily connections, human interactions and intimacy. It was a very lonely period for some and therefore shows were there in support and with the example of 'Normal People' it provided a 'normal' life and something 'normal' to discuss.

This show may not have been as popular if it was released in other times as it could have been chance of lockdown lust.

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Celebrities all have an appeal that helps build their fame and stardom, whether this is through physical attraction or how they portray their personality. With Paul Mescal, both elements are a huge factor to achieving his stardom title.

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There can be some backlash when being a 'hearthrob' as fans will continue to fantasize about the star and believe they know them whilst becoming obsessed. Mescal said "97% of (fame) is really nice - then 3%t is somebody, like, grabbing your a**."

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With the creation of Connell Waldron, this brought an element of fantasy to individuals around the world. Like mentioned previously, the character created from 'Normal People' was a 'typical Irish lad' but also brought forward some characteristics of that dream come true for some young women and this greatly benefited Paul to be perceived like the character.

With the show undoubtably launching his career, the question lies; are fans actually obsessed with Paul or the deep character analysis of Connell?

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Paul has been spotlighted for his Irish grin, sparkling blue eyes, messy hair and casual athlete build which would naturally suit a roman statue.

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Fan edit admiring Mescal's physique

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Paul Mescal in shorts 💞 #CapCut #paulmescal #paulmescaledit #paulmescalmarryme #celebrityedits 

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@celebpicz
Paul Mescal in shorts 💞 #CapCut #paulmescal #paulmescaledit #paulmescalmarryme #celebrityedits
♬ Another One Bites The Dust - Remastered 2011 - Queen

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Beauty alone is not enough to constantly engage an audience, and Mescal has managed to go further than this, leaving a lasting impression on his audiences.

From on screens, to stages and in interviews, Paul Mescal gives a continuous bubbly character to us that is unusual. Any from various of event, he seems to always give a down to earth approach, not acting like a celebrity but instead someone you know from your home town. He will portray the same professionalism but humorous approach on all platforms from red carpets, to talk shows, to YouTube videos.

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Paul left social media in 2020 in order to protect himself from negative comments and the build up this can have on your mental health.

Celebrities create a sense of mystery not being contactable and social media gives fans an insight into their life. Influencers and content creators expose themselves and their lives a lot more than on various social platforms.

The stars who are less active on social media have the power to project what they want, giving the audience less opportunity to create a story based on what they put out.

Paul not being active on social media leaves his fans extremely curious and wanting constantly to know more. This move from Mescal was almost a way to make him a continuous conversation over TikTok and Twitter, benefiting his fame.

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Paul Mescal’s first job 👕🍦😂 #paulmescal #youngoffenders #firstjob #irish #funny

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@collegetimes
Paul Mescal’s first job 👕🍦😂 #paulmescal #youngoffenders #firstjob #irish #funny
♬ original sound - collegetimes

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Paul Mescal's Friends Agree that He's a Total Aquarius | W Magazine

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This fan described the boy she sees in a coffee to look like 'Connell Waldron' instead of saying Paul Mescal.

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i need someone like connell in my life#connellwaldron#connellandmarianne #connell#foryoupage #normalpeople #marrianeandconnell 

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@phoebe3e
i need someone like connell in my life#connellwaldron#connellandmarianne #connell#foryoupage #normalpeople #marrianeandconnell
♬ original sound - gh0stluv3r

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love connell waldron so so much. #fyp #foryou #normalpeople #connellwaldron #depression #paulmescal #foryoupage #therapy #comfortcharacter

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@normalpeoplebot
love connell waldron so so much. #fyp #foryou #normalpeople #connellwaldron #depression #paulmescal #foryoupage #therapy #comfortcharacter
♬ Black Friday - Tom Odell

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Tweet from fans finding images of Paul on his sister's social media.

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Paul Mescal seen watching classic romcom on his phone and fans are obsessed #trending #latestnews 
https://t.co/kXkVv6qIeW

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Paul Mescal seen watching classic romcom on his phone and fans are obsessed

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Paul Mescal loves a classic romcom just as much as the next person (Picture: Getty) Paul Mescal’s sister, musician Nell Mescal, has shared an epic autumn roundu

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Paul Mescal seen watching classic romcom on his phone and fans are obsessed #trending #latestnews 
https://t.co/kXkVv6qIeW

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Paul Mescal seen watching classic romcom on his phone and fans are obsessed #trending #latestnews https://t.co/kXkVv6qIeW
— Nouman Zafar (@ffoo055512) November 6, 2023

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Paul Mescal seen watching classic romcom on his phone and fans are obsessed #trending #latestnews 
https://t.co/kXkVv6qIeW

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Paul Mescal seen watching classic romcom on his phone and fans are obsessed

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Paul Mescal loves a classic romcom just as much as the next person (Picture: Getty) Paul Mescal’s sister, musician Nell Mescal, has shared an epic autumn roundu

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Paul Mescal seen watching classic romcom on his phone and fans are obsessed #trending #latestnews 
https://t.co/kXkVv6qIeW

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Paul Mescal seen watching classic romcom on his phone and fans are obsessed #trending #latestnews 
https://t.co/kXkVv6qIeW

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Paul Mescal seen watching classic romcom on his phone and fans are obsessed

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Paul Mescal loves a classic romcom just as much as the next person (Picture: Getty) Paul Mescal’s sister, musician Nell Mescal, has shared an epic autumn roundu

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'Normal People' gave Paul the opportunity to win his first award at the British Academy Television Awards for Leading Actor. The speech he made was very humble and broadcasted to the public how appreciative he was to win this award.

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Paul Mescal's Heartfelt Speech for Leading Actor Win for Normal People | BAFTA TV Awards 2021

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In 2021, Paul Mescal debuted in the film 'The Lost Daughter' alongside massive stars such as Dakota Johnston and Oliva Colman who said she was 'giddy' when meeting him. Colman stated that she "couldn't look him in the eyes when we first met. He's just so kind and nice and a good person. He loves his family and he's so brilliant in what he does. His work is beautiful."

Hearing a star such as Olivia Colman who is a BAFT, EMMY and Golden Globe winner, highlights Mescal's talent and creates a platform for him to the audience and potential future directors.

Paul plays an Irish student on a working holiday in Greece, which continues this character we know him well for in previous productions - the working class Irish guy that is memorable to the audience, aiding to his fame.

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The movie Aftersun was released in May 2021 and showcases Mescal for the first time in a slightly different light but still continuing some similar characteristics from previous watches. He plays a working class single father who struggles with depression and anxiety. The emotional vulnerability portrayed on screen by Mescal, brings the audience to close him and the character, similarly to Connell Waldron in 'Normal People'

The movie was premiered at Cannes Film Festival 2022 alongside 'God's Creatures' another Paul had starred in the same year. The annual Cannes Film festival originates to 1938 and is a monumental break for anyone in Hollywood film and around the world. These films entered him into a new world of film and was exposed to many new potential opportunities.

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Complication of moving scenes from Aftersun

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4.4K Likes, TikTok video from lauren (@saladmonkey): ""i think its nice that we share the same sky" #aftersun #paulmescal #film #aftersunedit #paulmescaledit #filmedit". Aftersun Movie. original sound - lauren.

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He received nominations at the Academy Awards for Best Actor, the BAFTS for Leading Role and the monumental Oscars for Best Actor. Even though he did not win, interviews of him on red carpets went viral and his presence was significantly known. Media outlets wanted him on their content, a winner or not.

Paul says in this interview that the Oscars are "legacy making" and this is notable in the Padlet.

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Best Actor Nominee Paul Mescal: “Oscars Are Something I’ve Watched My Entire Life” | Oscars 2023

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Does Paul Mescal think he is a heartthrob? 

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Does Paul Mescal think he is a heartthrob? 

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Paul Mescal being interviewed by the viral comedian Amelia Dimoldenberg.

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Something significant for Irish people, was Paul's interview at the BAFTS red carpet with TG4, which he answered a full interview in Irish. This shocked audience with the question of "is there anything he can't do?"

Even through massive success, Mescal is still able to relate to his roots and humbly showcase himself on Irish national television. Audiences admire anything patriarchal and relatable, allowing Paul to always reach the hearts at home.

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77.6K Likes, 727 Comments. TikTok video from TG4 (@tg4tv): "Nuair a bhíonn Gaeilge Dhún na nGall ag an scrúdaitheoir! 😅 #BAFTAs". original sound - TG4.

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Taking a short break from the film industry, Paul returns to West End to preform in 'A Streetcar Named Desire' which Times's Dominic Maxwell thought that he "makes the latent violence of Stanley Kowalski into something easy, tangible, vibrant yet unactorly."

It is seen that Paul Mescal is able to portray emotion and feeling into very single character he plays and use all these skills on various entertainment platforms stage, to television and film.

He won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor and accepted the award with a moving speech.

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220 Likes, TikTok video from IndieWire (@indiewire): "#PaulMescal's acceptance speech for Best Actor at the #OlivierAwards for his performance in #AStreetCarNamedDesire. #paulmescaledit #paulmescaledits #paulmescalmarryme #paulmescalnoticemybestie #fyp #indiewire #awards". original sound - IndieWire.

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The trend setting began in 'Normal People' with the strong feature of the O'Neil's football shorts. Adaptations of these shorts started popping up in different stores around the world and put the Irish sportwear company on big demand.

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Paul Mescal ended his two year relationship with singer/songwriter Phoebe Bridges in December 2022, however neither of them had announced this, which made fans unsatisfied and hunger for information. Speculations began when Phoebe became publicly closer with Bo Burnham and singing seemingly aimed songs at Mescal. When asked, Paul will not give a clear response but gets very mad and upset when people are "prodding" in his business. This 'prodding' was meaning constant viral content being circulated of opinions and questions on the situation, spreading Paul's name around and increasing fame.

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Mescal set up an auction to give away his infamous chain from 'Normal People.' He raised £62,590 and donated this to Pieta House, an Irish mental health charity. As he struggles with depression himself, this auction allowed him to relate and reach many others on a personal level.

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"The idea of celebrity types needs nuancing in terms of class, gender, race and ethnicity, and sexuality. The celebrity occupies identity positions through which ideology and power relations are negotiated and articulated. The celebrity type, then, is a blended construction not simply because of fluidity in the way they occupy the stage, but because they are always given multiple identity positions that shape their status"(Redmond, 2014).

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"The participatory culture that builds around celebrity fandom can be argued to be regenerative, effecting the production and reception of the figure, as fans creatively transcode their meaning, produce and transmit new ways of understanding the celebrity, and engage in new forms of collective interaction". (Redmond, 2014)

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One of the many fan edits on TikTok showcases their obsession with the actor.

The fandom take pieces from different media outlets that feature Mescal and create an idea of what his persona truly is. This is spread and gossiped throughout social media. Due to Mescal not having social media, the fans are creating their own reception of Paul.

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Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

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"Though a star will invariably enact and maintain
their established public persona when making such appearances, these do also provide some opportunity for stars to reveal (and audiences to glimpse) aspects of the ‘real person’ or, at least, they promise this opportunity even when it is seldom granted" (Shingler, 2012).

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"Much work has been done on the relationship
between the very public life of film stars and their private lives and off-screen activities (e.g., politics, campaigning and charity work) and how all these domains are ultimately involved in the construction of a star’s identity" (Shingler, 2012).

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"Scandal can split a star’s private life in two, rumour and
gossip can divide audiences into two groups: those ‘in-the-know’ and everyone else" (Shingler, 2012)

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"In the early episodes of the series, Connell appears to be a successful GAA player who scores the winning goal at the end of a Gaelic football school match, creating excitement on Twitter (Palmer). Fans on Twitter appear to celebrate Connell not only for his athletic abilities, but also because he symbolizes, and advertises to the rest of the world, something uniquely Irish, GAA. Because of his athletic success, Connell seems to command the respect of his high-school male peers, and without realizing it, he becomes the object of desire for his female peers" (Bollas, 2022).

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"In addition to owning his sexuality, enjoying sex, and not being taken aback by his or his partner’s nudity, actively ensuring that his partner agrees and enjoys having sex with him becomes another characteristic of this new, post-Celtic man" (Bollas, 2022).

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"A BBC/Hulu co-production with support from Screen Ireland, the series’ near-simultaneous release in the UK, Ireland and the US, as well as further afield, seemingly demonstrated television’s power to construct a transnational viewing public at a time of physical atomisation due to measures taken to curtail the virus" (McIntyre, 2023).

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"The programme reactivated tropes of Irishness as a salve to contemporary stresses that has a genealogy going back to The Quiet Man (1952) and beyond, while simultaneously invoking a nostalgia for a more recent past when mobility within and beyond the nation was a thing of ease for those with adequate means to do so." (McIntyre, 2023)

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"When Paul and I started working together last year we sent a lot of references back and forth," Kay told Vogue last month. "Old Hollywood stills, vintage band artwork, pictures of shows we liked, old editorials. I quickly got a sense that Paul had great taste." According to Kay, their approach has been to go for sharp tailoring that's "subtly subverted. A little rough around the edges, tactile and contemporary," like the wicked Giuliva Heritage suit (with that great '70s-style exaggerated camp collar) he sported on Seth Meyers, or the big, aqua-blue jacket and kicky high-waisted trousers, both by Gucci, he wore to the Independent Spirit Awards this past weekend. But it's not just about the clothes.

First, there's Mescal's current hair, courtesy of his hairstylist Christine Nelli: a platonically grungy ideal of the trendy fashion shag mullet that, on him, just makes him look like an in-season footballer. And which, according to his GQ My Essentials video, he maintains with a quick spritz of Sun Bum Sea Spray: "My hair styling technique is shower, stick some of this in, throw my hands through my hair and then just let it be the way that it wants to be." (Relatable king, some might say.) Per the good folks over at British GQ, "the hairstyle has become an unlikely symbol of hot: a pearl-necklaced, white-vested, clean boy-faced but-still-slightly-wrong'un sort of hot." And ultimately, it is fun for a serious actor to have an unserious haircut.

And underneath the louche suits, he's been wearing lots of white ribbed tanks-which, depending on how you look at them, are either a classical (and complicated) symbol of masculinity, or a more laid-back, sexy, maybe even vulnerable alternative to a stuffy button-up shirt. Earlier this week, The Guardian published a whole story on "the myth and meaning" of Mescal's recent ubiquitous white ribbed tanks. Through the awards-season gauntlet of the last few months, Mescal has also been starring in a West End production of Tennessee Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire, in the same role that put Marlon Brando and his white ribbed tank top on the map back in 1951. (Interestingly enough, the director of this current adaptation specifically nixed any white tanks from this adaptation, citing a desire to move away from the "performance baggage" of Brando's legendary portrayal.) In the Guardian, fashion writer Dal Chodha offered that the tank, especially on Mescal's conventionally rippling torso, "proffers an idealized male body in a classic 1950s pin-up way. It says 'masculine' in a very direct and uncomplicated way."

We've seen plenty of undershirts on and off the red carpet recently, probably for a whole host of reasons, and they can give off a bit of a hardo vibe. Even so, Mescal has gone for some straight-up softer moments, too, particular when he's wearing pieces by the Irish designer Simone Rocha: a pearl-collared Oxford shirt on Jimmy Kimmel, a sheer embroidered jacket at the SAGs, a round-shouldered suit at the British Independent Film Awards. British GQ recently deemed Rocha, who recently expanded her womenswear label to include men's designs, as "the incumbent Cool Guy™ brand," which feels reflective of the overall Cool Guy vibe of Mescal's fashion journey. "I wanted to see femininity with this contradiction of masculinity, and see masculinity as its own identity. That was the idea, really, to see how this all fits together, and feels emotional," Rocha told GQ, and it's true: cool menswear these days is all about contradiction. Maybe that openness, in tandem with the sorts of emotional roles Mescal takes on, is what makes his style so desirable. What looks better than confidence?

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The Paul Mescal Guide to Aspirational Menswear

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The 'Aftersun' star arrived on the scene with a pair of short shorts, a chain necklace, and a dream. Now, he's an Oscars Best Actor nominee with a fashion mullet who looks great in a floppy Gucci suit.

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Paul was invited to a Gucci party at a prestige venue in London, but did not wear what everyone was expecting. Obviously dressed in all Gucci, but providing a very minimalist look of a white tee and jeans. Unknown to many, this was part of a wider move at Gucci. Gucci's new plan was to return to minimal fashion, for customers who buy well but don't want to shout about where their clothes are from. Understanding Paul's subtle and humble attitude, this statement worked perfectly and geared him in a direction for the future in fashion.

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Paul Mescal explains that with age and confidence he has been able to explore and experiment with different styles. He is able to project his personality to the audience this way and rather than wearing a basic black suit, he adds his touch to it. This uniqueness from the star makes him stand out from the crowd and noticeable more than others, either walking down the street or on the red carpet.

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Paul Mescal on his relationship with fashion | Esquire UK

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Many fans of Paul's fashion have made videos breaking down his different looks, putting him on a pedestal of stardom.

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7.2K Likes, 38 Comments. TikTok video from Xander Torres (@therealprofessorx): "Replying to @emmacthatsme Still havent seen him put on a bad outfit #fyp #fypシ #paulmescal #stylebreakdown #celebrity #fashion #fashiontiktok #springfashion #summerfashion #mensfashion #hollywood #bestdressed #celebrityfashion #vintagefashion #vintage ##greenscreen". What You Won't Do for Love - Bobby Caldwell.

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The actor stars in the new Gucci campaign, celebrating 70 years the Horsebit Loafer in its original, classic 1953 style.

This is a monumental step in Paul's career to be recognised by Gucci as a fashion icon and worthy enough to be the face of one of their most popular pieces. This could bring potential modelling opportunities for the star in the future.

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Paul Mescal in the New Horsebit 1953 Loafer Campaign

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"Celebrities are developed to make money. Their names and images are used to market lingerie, swimwear, fragrances, and sports shoes, as well as the products of the entertainment industries: films,\ DVDs, magazines, newspapers, television programmes – even the evening news. Media entrepreneurs want celebrities involved with their projects because they believe this will help them attract audiences. The celebrity can develop their public persona as a commercial asset and their career choices, in principle, should be devoted to focusing on that objective. As the asset appreciates – as the celebrity's fame spreads – so does its earning capacity." (Turner, 2013)

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"A structurally embedded relationship between the news media and the publicity arm of the celebrity industry compromises the independence of the news media and its capacity to simply tell the truth as it sees it – or just run the stories it wants to and that it thinks its audiences might want to read. It accompanies the observation that celebrity material has inserted itself increasingly into our media diet and that this is the result of the increasing power of publicity" (Turner, 2013).