--- description: Find out how Paul Mescal is shaping the future and defining the next generation of leadership. title: 2023 TIME100 Next: Paul Mescal image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3ce855f23f386888/698a3fffdb298782cb2694ab/time100-next-paul-mescal-2023.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 --- Sep 13, 2023 # Paul Mescal by Colin Farrell  Paul Mescal Paul MescalJordan Strauss—Invision/AP Why is it that the finest actors leave us with the sense that we know them? Even if they are—in life—unknown to us. Paul Mescal exemplifies the answer to that question, for there is something indelibly honest about [his work](https://time.com/6223931/aftersun-review/ "undefined"). Something that allows us a feeling of recognition. It’s not so much what he shows you, but instead what he makes of himself available for you to see. --- ### More from TIME --- There are things that an artist can grow into: craft, a deepening of the heart. But there is an honesty to some actors so intrinsic that it forms the foundation upon which all else grows. The first time I saw Paul perform, what moved me was his ability to stand in silence and take in the world around him so I could experience it through him. I was riveted, and it has been the same in every performance since. It is the sincerity of his every word and gesture that makes me so excited for what he’s yet to share with us. _Farrell is an Oscar-nominated actor_ Paul Mescal Is on the TIME100 Next 2023 List ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","@id":"https://time.com/collections/time100-next-2023/6308500/paul-mescal/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/collections/time100-next-2023/6308500/paul-mescal/"},"headline":"Paul Mescal","datePublished":"2023-09-13T11:00:23.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-03T00:19:10.946Z","description":"","url":"https://time.com/collections/time100-next-2023/6308500/paul-mescal/","keywords":["TIME 100 Next","sponsorshipblock","time100nextartists23"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3ce855f23f386888/698a3fffdb298782cb2694ab/time100-next-paul-mescal-2023.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"TIME Staff","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/time-staff/"}],"creator":"TIME Staff","articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3ce855f23f386888/698a3fffdb298782cb2694ab/time100-next-paul-mescal-2023.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/collections/time100-next-2023/6308500/paul-mescal/","name":"Paul Mescal"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"See Everyone on the TIME100 Next List","description":"TIME100 Next, our annual franchise recognizing the rising leaders in health, climate, business, sports, the arts and more.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/QxIk3IJu/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2023-09-13T11:00:00.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/QxIk3IJu.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/collections/time100-next-2023/6308500/paul-mescal/","duration":"PT1M58S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/collections/time100-next-2023/6308500/paul-mescal/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```