Paul Mescal has revealed his Oscar nomination for Aftersun came at the best time for his family, with his mother beginning chemotherapy on the same day.
The Maynooth man was nominated for his portrayal of Callum, a young father to his somewhat mature 11-year-old daughter, Sophie as they navigate their relationship while on holiday. The film is about his journey as a father trying his best to maintain a mask conveying strength and stability for his daughter while being emotionally vulnerable underneath.
The Charlotte Wells film garnered him two BAFTA nominations as well as one for the Academy Awards.
Mescal spoke to Martha Kearney on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme in his first interview since the nomination and said: “I think it’s all a bit overwhelming, especially for my family, I don’t think anybody or even I was expecting this”.
“I always knew that I was willing to work hard but when the nominations came in and BAFTAs the week before, there was something kind of, something slightly absurd about it all. There’s stuff going on at home that is difficult and this has given my family a very welcome respite, and we’re going to have a great time as a family. They’re all coming out to LA.”
Kearney confirmed with the 27-year-old that he was referring to his mam’s preparation for chemo on the same day of his nomination, that sister Nell announced to the world in the best possible way. He replied saying: “The universe works in very interesting ways.”
The ex GAA player also spoke about his role in his school musical and how if it hadn’t have been a requirement for everyone to participate he never would’ve had the guts to tell his friends he wanted to audition instead of playing football – can you believe it!
“I feel like had it not been for that policy, I don’t know if I would have had the confidence to turn around to my friends who I was playing sport with and say, ‘I want to be in the school musical’. So that policy afforded a kind of possibility and I think that changed my life forever.”
