Paul Mescal hopes his Olivier Award for Best Actor helps his “weak” mother’s high spirits, as well as his father who “looks up to her”.
The 27-year-old actor at the Royal Albert Hall’s top award ceremony on Sunday for his turn as Stanley Kowalski in the new stage adaptation of Streetcar Named Desire.
In his speech, Mescal thanked his mother, who is receiving cancer treatment, adding: “I hope you get better.”
In the winner’s room, he told the PA news agency: “My mum and dad are at home. My mum will be fine at the moment, so I hope she has a little run and dad is also looking after her.
“It probably feels kind of narcissistic or egotistical to assume that something will help, but I hope it does.”
Astonished, Mescal said “what is going on” as he held his judgement.
Speaking about his success in not getting an Oscar nomination for his role in Aftersun in Normal People, he told PA: “It’s silly. I feel like I hear people say that all the time, but it doesn’t feel true. This does not feel true at all.
“But this kind of thing happens so that there is no time to stop and think, this is a phenomenon of feeling.
“But we’re on stage tomorrow at 7.30pm and I can’t wait. It’s a great story, it’s a great group of people to work with.
The Irish actor also works in the theater as a “horror”.
“The theater,” he said, “is where I learned to be an actor. It’s where I started. I did five or six plays in Dublin, this is where I want to end up.
“It feels odd to me not to be in and around the stage or theater. I don’t want to be away too long. “
Meanwhile, Killing Eve actress Jodie Comer, who won best actress for her role in Tessa in the First Face, spoke about the meaning of the phrase after her inspirational acceptance speech, where she encouraged young actors to believe that they can.
In the winners’ room, he told PA: “When I sent the letter to myself, it was on the first page and I was blown away by it.
“But I was like, ‘I don’t know why I was sent this because I haven’t done much theater,’ I was confused by that.
“I guess I’ve never been told much in theater auditions, which I think is always right and necessary, but there’s always been this constant idea, ‘We love you, but it’s too much work,’ or ‘You’re just not invested enough in this or it was instituted.
“Yes, that’s what kind of stayed with me. I think it’s possible that you need a fistful of stars and you meet kind people, people and the right time and place, but it’s actually possible, so hopefully it can be an example of that.
Earl, 30, added that she “definitely” wants to pursue more theater in the future.
PA said: “It’s tricky, because after this it’s going to be something really special that I want to get back into it.
“But I would love to do more theater. Now I understand, when before the actors told me that this kind of incomparable way, now I understand.
Similarly, Sir Derek Jacobi described winning a lifetime achievement award for outstanding contributions to theater as “magical”.
In the room the winners told PA about working with the late actor Laurent Olivier – in which he was named after the ceremony.
“It’s not just an honor for me, I’ve worked with him for more than seven years, he’s part of my life, and I owe him so much, very much,” he said.
“When I was young, he gave me the opportunity to work with him as an actor, to work with him and to be his friend.
“As I said in the prayer, he sometimes called me his second son. I loved him so much, and I have all my life, and without him, no life would have been made of praise.’
Beverley Knight, who won Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Emmeline Pankhurst in Sylvia at the Old Vic, said she was “struck obliquely”.
PA said: “If my late best friend was still alive, he’d say, ‘You could have knocked me seven.’ That’s how I feel. I’m so worried. There are no words.”
The emotional 50-year-old also spoke about Wolverhampton’s youth theater giving his speech, saying he would “never” forget his roots.
The PA said: “So many people from Wolverhampton Youth Theater have had glorious careers in theatre, film and TV.
“I just want kids to know that they can do this, even at my age, like people say, you can do this and you can have at this.”
Meanwhile, Arthur Darville, who won best actor in the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical Oklahoma! He said he dedicated his salary to “supporting” family, friends and the school.
The PA said: “I’m from Birmingham and I’ve had a really supportive family. My child’s mum is an actress and my dad is a musician so I came from a very close family and people who really accepted her.
“I had this amazing drama teacher, Mike Perry, who was really inspiring and taught me loads.
“I think those people are really important in all of our lives. Teachers who see you encourage you. Teachers are really important and I owe so much to so many people who have supported me in my life.”
The Olivier Awards 2023 will be broadcast on ITV1 and ITVX from 10.15pm to 12.20am.
