Paul Mescal has a "real desire to love and be loved".
The 29-year-old actor plays William Shakespeare in Hamnet, the new historical drama film that's based on the 2020 titular novel by Maggie O'Farrell, and Paul has revealed how the Chloe Zhao-directed movie has shaped his view of the world around him.
He told E! News: "If the film’s taught me anything, and it’s taught me many things, it’s that you can’t be a great version of yourself without the immense support from the people around you.
"As a society, we’ve become individualised and need to carve out our own path. And actually, it’s a hell of a lot more enjoyable and more exciting to do that in contact with people with a real desire to love and be loved."
Paul previously confessed to feeling relieved after reading the reviews of Hamnet.
The actor admitted to feeling a sense of relief when he read positive feedback of the movie.
Paul - who stars in the new film alongside the likes of Joe Alwyn and Jessie Buckley - told IndieWire: "It’s been such a relief for all of us, you know.
"Having a film premiere in any context is like giving a baby out into the world and we’re so, so thrilled that people seem to be, not [necessarily] responding positively, but people seem to be understanding the film that we made as filmmakers. It’s a big, big relief."
Prior to that, Paul described independent movies as his "bread and butter".
The actor starred in the Sir Ridley Scott-directed Gladiator II in 2024, and although he relished the experience of shooting the historical epic film, Paul insisted that he remains committed to making more independent films going forwards.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Paul shared: "My dad showed me Gladiator when I was 13 - I was obsessed with the battle sequences. But Aftersun and things like that [indie movies], that’s my bread and butter in terms of what I’m drawn to as an actor.
"But if I was going to make a big film? And Sir Ridley Scott comes asking? Ridley organised a Zoom, which lasted half an hour - he spoke with me for ten minutes about the arc of the story, ten minutes about his dog and ten minutes about Gaelic football, and then it was offered to me."