Paul Mescal Hamnet Acting Method: Why He Drank to Escape 'Acting Drunk'

"I didn't want to be 'acting drunk.'" Paul Mescal, the star of the 2026 Golden Globe-winning drama Hamnet, has revealed a raw and unorthodox approach to his latest role. To capture the visceral frustration of a young William Shakespeare, Mescal chose to consume alcohol during a pivotal scene to bypass the artifice of performance.

The Paul Mescal Hamnet Acting Method: Real Alcohol for Real Emotion

According to Entertainment Weekly, the Golden Globe nominee felt that drinking was necessary to access the specific emotional headspace of his character. In a scene directed by Chloé Zhao, which plays out in one long take, Mescal’s Shakespeare reaches a breaking point, fueled by creative stagnation and alcohol. Mescal noted that while he had never done this before, it helped him feel disconnected from his co-star Jessie Buckley in a way that was "really useful for the scene."

Mescal linked the character's struggle to his own upbringing in a non-artistic environment, describing the feeling of wanting to escape to a city where conversation and craft are accessible. He portrayed the famous playwright not as a legend, but as a man struggling with "performer's block" and the embarrassment of failing to communicate his internal fire. The set was designed to mimic a theater space, with microphones hidden on the desk and the crew tucked out of sight.

Expanding to Wide Release on January 16

Following its major win at the Golden Globes, Hamnet is set for a wide release this Friday, January 16. The film, based on the 2020 novel by Maggie O'Farrell, has already cemented itself as an awards season frontrunner, with Mescal's performance being hailed as one of the year's most devastating portrayals.