Paul Mescal Siblings: Meet Nell and Donnacha Mescal

Paul Colm Michael Mescal, born on February 2, 1996, in Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland, is an acclaimed Irish actor who has taken the entertainment world by storm.

Rising to fame with his breakout role as Connell Waldron in the 2020 miniseries Normal People, Mescal has established himself as a versatile talent in both television and film.

Before his acting career, he was a promising Gaelic footballer, representing Kildare at minor and under-21 levels, but a jaw injury led him to focus on acting.

A graduate of The Lir Academy at Trinity College Dublin with a Bachelor of Arts in Acting (2017), Mescal’s journey from Dublin’s theater stages to Hollywood’s red carpets has been meteoric.

Siblings

Paul is the eldest of three children born to Dearbhla, a former Garda officer, and Paul Sr., a schoolteacher and semi-professional actor.

His younger siblings, Nell and Donnacha Mescal, share a close bond with Paul, often seen supporting him at high-profile events like the Oscars and BAFTAs.

Born on April 30, 2003, Nell, now 21, is an emerging indie folk/pop singer-songwriter.

At 17, she made the bold decision to drop out of school in Maynooth and move to London to pursue her music career.

Since then, she has released singles like “Graduating” (2022) and “In My Head” (2023), signed with LAB Records, and performed at festivals such as Electric Picnic and as a support act for artists like Florence & The Machine.

Nell has spoken about her determination to carve her own path, rejecting suggestions to drop her surname to avoid being labeled a “nepo-sibling.”

The middle sibling, Donnacha, keeps a lower profile compared to his famous brother and sister. Based in New York City, he works as a recruiter for engineers, according to his LinkedIn profile.

While he avoids the spotlight, Donnacha is a steadfast supporter of Paul’s career, often joining the family at events like the Vanity Fair Oscars party in 2023 and the Gladiator II premiere in 2024.

Paul has shared that Donnacha, who “never cries,” was moved to tears when Paul received an Emmy nomination for Normal People in 2020.

Donnacha’s private nature contrasts with the public personas of Paul and Nell, but his presence at key moments underscores the Mescal family’s unity.

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Career

Mescal’s career began on Dublin’s theater stages, with roles in productions like The Great Gatsby and The Lieutenant of Inishmore after graduating from The Lir Academy.

His television debut came in 2019 with a small role in the comedy series Bump, but it was his leading role in Normal People (2020), opposite Daisy Edgar-Jones, that catapulted him to international fame.

The Hulu/BBC series, based on Sally Rooney’s novel, became a cultural phenomenon, with Mescal’s portrayal of the emotionally complex Connell earning widespread praise.

Mescal transitioned to film with roles in The Lost Daughter (2021), directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, and God’s Creatures (2022).

His performance as a troubled father in Aftersun (2022) was a critical triumph, earning him nominations for an Academy Award and a BAFTA for Best Actor.

In 2023, he starred in All of Us Strangers alongside Andrew Scott, showcasing his ability to play vibrant, emotionally layered characters, and appeared in the less well-received sci-fi film Foe with Saoirse Ronan.

Mescal’s move to big-budget cinema came with his leading role as Lucius Verus in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II (2024), a sequel to the 2000 epic.

Upcoming projects include The History of Sound with Josh O’Connor, Hamnet as William Shakespeare, and a starring role as Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes’ Beatles biopic, set for release in 2028.

Accolades

Mescal’s talent has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards and nominations.

For Normal People, he won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor and received nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and a Critics’ Choice Television Award.

His role in Aftersun earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, a BAFTA nomination, and critical acclaim for his subtle, heartfelt performance.

Mescal’s stage work was also honored, with a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Stanley Kowalski in a 2022 West End revival of A Streetcar Named Desire.

In 2024, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures awarded him the Vantage Award, recognizing his contributions as an emerging artist.