Considered his breakout role, Mescal starred in “Normal People,” which aired in 2020. The show, based on the bestselling novel by Sally Rooney, centers on Connell (Mescal), a shy but popular young working-class man, and wealthy but troubled social outcast Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones), exploring their intimacy, love, friendship, and miscommunication over the course of five years. It’s sexy, it’s tender, it’s personal, and it’s heartbreaking.
For his role, Mescal received an abundance of critical acclaim, with reviewers saying the actor is “astonishingly good at making clear what he’s thinking” and commenting on his “understated deftness that verges on psychic projection.” In particular, the show’s depiction of mental health struggles in young men was celebrated because of Mescal’s performance.
He won the BAFTA TV Award for best actor for the role, as well as nominations at the Emmys and Critics’ Choice Awards.
Watch “Normal People” on Hulu now.
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