Paul Mescal talks inspiration as he attends Dublin premiere of 'Hamnet'

Paul Mescal says what he found “incredibly inspiring” in his upcoming film Hamnet was Shakespeare’s devotion to love and family.

Mescal and Jessie Buckley, both nominated for Golden Globes for their roles in the film, walked the red carpet for its Irish premiere in Dublin on Saturday.

This Chloé Zhao’s adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet: A Novel of the Plague is set to release in Irish cinemas in January.

At the premiere, Mescal, who plays William Shakespeare, praised the Bard’s depiction as a devoted family man.

“I find it incredibly inspiring how ambitious he is in terms of his feelings and how he invests in his love with Agnes. There’s a real confidence in the way he expresses things. And I think that requires a lot of bravery,” he said.

He also admitted to hoping to carry those qualities forward.“I certainly hope so,” he said with a laugh.

Meanwhile, Buckley, portraying Agnes Hathaway, described her character as deeply connected to nature and her own elemental force.

Newly a mother herself, she added, “I’m always curious about revealing the depths of a woman and a mother that haven’t been seen yet.”

She also reflected on her immersive acting approach. “I want to be absolutely inside the body and unconscious mind of the people that I’m playing, so I can learn something I didn’t know about the world.”

The actors also noted the film’s universal impact. “This film reminded me of what it is to be a storyteller and the journey you can take,” Buckley said.