If anyone’s found themselves everywhere lately, it’s Paul Mescal. But the Irish actor, fresh off Cannes, where his latest film The History of Sound premiered to a six-minute standing ovation, is now voicing frustrations about “lazy” criticisms about his work and the decline of “masculinity” in cinema.
Mescal insists Hollywood’s moving away from “traditional alpha male” roles - and that the habit of lumping his new film in with Brokeback Mountain is “lazy and frustrating.”
Meanwhile, a certain Liverpool native isn’t quite on board with the idea that Mescal should be complaining about anything.
Julia Baird, 78, John Lennon’s sister, has made her thoughts clear about Mescal’s dominance on screen and his upcoming portrayal as Sir Paul McCartney in a series of films, which will be directed by Sam Mendes.
“He’s in everything! What’s wrong with Liverpool? We have actors, and they speak the language.” she said.
It’s a reminder that while Mescal says there’s a ‘death’ of the alpha male, he’s arguably enjoying one of the most privileged positions on the acting ladder today - with no shortage of ‘masculine’ roles flooding his way.
Baird’s pointed comments to writer Julianne Trainer at Daily Mail, underline a very real frustration: there’s a whole world of actors eager for a shot, yet Mescal’s seemingly landed every leading role going.
And it’s not just a Liverpool thing. The debate cuts deeper - about opportunity, representation, and yes, accents. “It will be interesting to see what kind of accent he comes up with, because nobody can do a Liverpool accent. They all get it wrong,” Baird added.
The cheekiest part? Mescal’s recent filmography reads like a masterclass in leading-man ubiquity: Aftersun, God’s Creatures, Killers of the Flower Moon, The History of Sound - plus a very ‘alpha’ turn in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator reboot, which is still a buzz topic in Hollywood.
Add in industry chatter about Mescal joining the exclusive club of faces Hollywood keeps recycling, alongside Timothée Chalamet, Barry Keoghan and Austin Butler, and the claim of underrepresentation sounds even thinner.
“I love Paul Mescal but he is sounding a bit whiny complaining at Cannes,” said a fan on X. Another wrote under the story on Instagram: “Sorry but this dude is in everything and he’s complaining about masculinity in Hollywood and calling his critics lazy. He blatantaly doesn’t wanna be compared to gay characters in Brokeback lol. Cry more”
Mescal himself seems to be lamenting a form of creative confinement. Speaking at Cannes about The History of Sound, a 1919-set gay romance, he says the film is “very subjective to the relationship between [the characters]” rather than a grand statement on masculinity.
He finds it “frustrating” when reviewers lazily compare it to Brokeback Mountain, insisting his film celebrates love rather than repression.
But while Mescal frets about Hollywood’s “lazy” storytelling, Baird is calling out the gatekeepers for not looking further afield - specifically at Liverpool actors who can “speak the language,” or rather, the accent. It’s a reminder that casting politics is alive and kicking.
