There’s something about #PaulMescal. The Irish actor who rose to fame in #NormalPeople has become a strong awards season contender for his poignant portrayal of a young father in @AftersunMovie. For our annual Best Performances issue, the 26-year-old former footballer discusses working on the film and how he caught the acting bug. “My school has an amazing policy where everybody has to audition for the school musical in their fourth year,” Mescal says. “It was a big one—The Phantom of the Opera—and I ended up playing the Phantom. That probably changed my life.” Link in bio for more. - Photography: @jamie.hawkesworth Styling: @saramoonves Writer: #LynnHirschberg Hair: @anthonyturnerhair Skin: @luciapicaofficial Manicure: @michellesaundersjames Set Design: @gillemills Production: @ctdinc W VOLUME ONE: THE BEST PERFORMANCES ISSUE