Actor Paul Mescal recently shared his thoughts on work-life balance, expressing that while he prefers not to take long breaks from acting, he’s open to stepping back from promotional activities for his upcoming projects.
In a candid interview with The Guardian, the 29-year-old star reflected on the pressures of constant promotions. He stated, “I’m learning that I don’t think I can go on (acting) as much,” but clarified that he welcomes the idea of a breather from the promotional grind. Mescal, known for his roles in Hamnet and an untitled 2028 Beatles biopic, mentioned, “What I mean by that is that I’m excited for the period of time that will fundamentally exist where I won’t be promoting anything.”
He humorously added, “I would really lose my mind if I took two years off (from) my job. But what I’m excited about is the concept of not being on a promotional tour for the next two years.” Mescal joked, “I think it’ll give people a welcome break from seeing my face.”
Hoping to retreat from the public eye after promoting Hamnet, he noted his anticipation for some quiet time until 2028, when the Beatles project comes into play. “Once I’ve finished promoting that, I hope nobody gets to see me until 2028 when I’m doing the Beatles. People will get a break from me, and I’ll get a break from them,” he said.
Reflecting on his career, the actor expressed gratitude for his success but acknowledged the emotional toll that frequent projects can take. “I’m five or six years into this now, and I feel very lucky. But I’m also learning that I don’t think I can go on doing it as much.”
When asked about rationing his work, Mescal replied, “I think so. I’m gonna have to start doing that. For sure.” He emphasized that rationing doesn’t necessarily mean doing less, but rather recognizing that intense projects like The History of Sound require more emotional investment. “You can’t keep going back and expect to consistently deliver something you’re proud of.”
He also expressed a desire to focus on theater for a time, saying, “I miss being on stage, so I might have a time when I’m only doing theatre for a couple of years. I also have different priorities in my personal life that I want to attend to.”