"I truly admire her": Paul Mescal speaks about his dynamic partnership with Jessie Buckley in the Oscar-nominated film 'Hamnet'.
On a chilly evening in Dublin, passionate movie enthusiasts gathered in long lines, eager to catch a glimpse of Irish talents Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal as they made their way to the highly anticipated premiere of Hamnet.
Both actors, recognized for their Golden Globe nominations for their roles as Agnes and William Shakespeare, were accompanied by the film's director, Chloé Zhao, and co-writer Maggie O’Farrell, the author of the best-selling novel that inspired the movie.
At the Light House Cinema situated in Smithfield, the red carpet came alive as the stars interacted with fans and responded to questions posed by the press eagerly waiting to capture the moment.
Hamnet explores the pivotal romance between Agnes and William Shakespeare, illustrating their growing love amidst the challenges that arise from the playwright's surging success. The film poignantly chronicles their experience of profound grief following the tragic loss of their young son—a heartache that resonates deeply through one of Shakespeare’s most renowned works, Hamlet.
With emotionally charged performances, both Mescal and Buckley are already generating excitement regarding potential Oscar nominations.
Mescal, who rose to fame through the BBC's adaptation of Sally Rooney's acclaimed novel Normal People, has garnered significant critical recognition and received an Oscar nomination for his powerful portrayal of a young father in the critically acclaimed film Aftersun released in 2022.
While Buckley had to move on quickly after a brief interaction at the media line, Mescal took the time to address some pressing questions from reporters.
The undeniable chemistry between Mescal and Buckley on screen is noteworthy, and when asked if their Irish backgrounds contributed to this connection, he shared with the Irish Examiner that it was primarily due to his co-star's exceptional talent.
"If Jessie were from the North Pole, I’d still have chemistry with her," he remarked. "It has little to do with our origins, yet everything to do with them too. Jessie is remarkably talented, and we both desire the same feeling in our work—an experience defined by total freedom.
"We were two actors intent on falling in love with the characters we portrayed, which naturally led us to fall in love with each other as well."
Mescal expressed that collaborating with the Kerry-born actress has inspired him to rethink his approach to acting moving forward. He elaborated, "I absolutely adore her, and working alongside her provided me with a sense of safety that I hadn’t felt before. Moreover, partnering with her essentially rewrote the rulebook for how I want to proceed in my career."
For Mescal, returning to Ireland with a film is always a rewarding experience. He stated, "It's incredible. We've had the opportunity to come back a few times now, like when Andrew [Scott] joined us for All of Us Strangers and Gladiator [II] last year.
"Seeing people braving the cold to support us and the film is not just heartwarming, but it also grounds you. It’s just lovely to witness.”
Having participated in seven Shakespearean productions, Mescal admitted that he had temporarily distanced himself from the Bard's works, but Hamnet rekindled his passion.
"For a while, I think I lost my connection with him. However, this film has revealed that Shakespeare's genius lies not solely in his words, but in his profound understanding of the human condition. He has the remarkable ability to articulate feelings that seem universal, yet fresh and new, which I believe demands immense bravery and a deep sensitivity to people.
"In this sense, he stands out as one of literature's great empaths."
Maggie O’Farrell, who first noticed Mescal's talent in a stage adaptation of James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man at Dublin's Gate Theatre in 2018, expressed her delight in having him portray Shakespeare in the film. She reflected on whether their shared Irish heritage facilitated the connection between Mescal and Buckley.
"They are both such brilliant actors that once the director calls 'action', you forget everything else and focus on their impeccable Warwickshire accents. Perhaps there is indeed an inherent Irish quality that resonates within them both," she suggested.
Chloé Zhao, who earned an Oscar for Best Director for her 2020 film Nomadland, believes that both Mescal and Buckley are united by Ireland’s rich tradition of storytelling and culture.
"I feel that Ireland has preserved ancient storytelling rituals and a unique way of life that remain intact within the landscape, untouched by time," she remarked.
"As storytellers emerging from this cultural background, they share something deeply rooted in history, and I believe this connection translates into their performances; they are bound by something timeless."
Zhao mentioned that Mescal played a crucial role in helping her grasp the essence of Shakespeare's work.
“He advised me, 'Don’t stress about deciphering the meanings of every line. If the performance is compelling, you will inherently feel its impact because sometimes too much focus is placed on meaning rather than the emotional resonance.'"
