Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal on toxic masculinity: ‘The most macho man will be the first to break’
Andrew Scott says men are going through a “crisis” right now, struggling to find “what it means to be a man” in today’s society.
The Irish actor – who became a household name thanks to his role as ‘hot’ priest in Fleabag – tells Sky News: “There’s a sort of crisis in masculinity I think at the moment and what it means to be a man.
Paul Mescal in All Of Us Strangers. Pic: Chris Harris/Searchlight Pictures
“We have all these things within us, there’s no one way of being, there just isn’t, and sometimes the people who are the most outwardly macho in some ways, are the people who aren’t going to be there for you emotionally.
His co-star, fellow Irishman Paul Mescal, whose breakout role in hit drama Normal People has made him one of the most in demand actors right now, adds, “and they’ll be the first to break”.
Scott nods: “When you are able to accept all those parts of you, I think that leads to better mental health and just a sense of stability.”
The 47-year-old plays screenwriter Adam in All Of Us Strangers – a fantasy romance merging the themes of grief, loss, identity and isolation.
Despite being overlooked in the Oscars nominations, the film has earned six BAFTA nods including outstanding British film and best director, and best supporting actor for Mescal.
The 27-year-old, who plays troubled neighbour Harry in the movie, says that while figures like Andrew Tate act as figureheads for toxic masculinity, this film showcases a very different kind of male energy.
“Adam and Harry, they’re going through difficult junctions and moments in their life.
“They’re also using their masculinity as a kind of haven for each other. They’re not using their masculinity as a barrier or something that is that is impenetrable, it’s the opposite, and I’m proud of that.”
Pic: Searchlight Pictures
Their connection breaks their solitude, lived out in a deserted tower block in the heart of the capital.
The film’s writer and director, Andrew Haigh tells Sky News male fragility was something he was keen to explore.
“I always think that so many men are just like lost little boys trapped in adults’ bodies. So, I wanted the film to speak to that a little bit, and I wanted it to sort of radiate vulnerability.”
A queer love story
Inspired by the 1987 novel Strangers by Japanese author Taichi Yamada who died in November, the movie’s set in London rather than Tokyo, and pulls away from the stock ghost story elements of its source material.
But the key difference is that the novel has a heterosexual love story at its centre rather than a queer one.
Haigh has said it was important for his lead character, Adam, to be played by an actor who shared his sexuality.
He explains that while it’s not a hard and fast casting rule, on this occasion he felt it was the right choice.
“There is so much nuance in Adam and the understanding of how the past has affected him, growing up in the 80s as a gay kid, what that has done to him as an adult, the trauma of growing up at that time, which was a really rough, difficult time.
“I wanted an actor who understood that on a very visceral level. And I think it’s a very hard thing to explain to people that didn’t experience that, or actually understand how it felt or how we carry the baggage of that into our adulthood.”
Pic: Parisa Taghizadeh/Searchlight Pictures
Scott, who first spoke about being gay in interviews 10 years ago when promoting the movie Pride, says it’s about so much more than whether a character is straight or gay.
‘You don’t play sexuality’
“I think the most important thing in any character is to look at what the attributes of the character are, not just the sexuality of the character.”
He says representation behind the camera is as important as that in front, with people in positions of power elsewhere on the production able to speak up if they feel a representation is false or inaccurate.
“You don’t play sexuality, otherwise all gay characters would just have the same attributes – one gay character is distinct from another gay character, depending on what their attributes are, in the same way, we’d apply that theory to straight characters.”
Admitting he sometimes gets frustrated when questions about sexuality are asked even when they have no relevance to a project, Scott explains: “What we’re talking about is storytelling because representation is incredibly important. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe that.
“But so is transformation because it speaks to our empathy. And I think actors like to transform because you like to empathise, like to imagine what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes…
“We’re all more similar to each other than we might imagine.”
The chemistry is for real
Mescal, who is straight, defends his casting in the role of a gay man.
He explains: “Historically, when there’s been performances that have been deemed offensive, it’s when actors or storytellers are attempting to play a sexuality. It’s impossible. And I often times think that one of the least interesting parts of these characters is their sexuality.
“They contain so much more than just that, and that’s what I like to find in this story, not just as a queer love story, but as a love story in general.”
Pic: Chris Harris/Searchlight Pictures
Haigh says he cast Mescal as he felt he’d be “incredible and wonderful in that role”, adding, “of course you can cast someone, I think, in certain roles who don’t necessarily match the sexuality of the characters.
“It’s often about who is also writing the material and who is making the material and who is behind the material, and there are a lot of us on this project who are gay and are queer and understand what this experience is.”
When asked whether Scott and Mescal had a ‘chemistry test,’ (a read through set up with the film’s potential stars to ascertain how well they’d work together) Haigh laughs.
“Everyone asks about chemistry, but when you’re making a film, you’re not saying, ‘Do we all have chemistry? Is there chemistry here?’ You don’t just do the best you can with the material that you have.
“It was clear to me that [Scott and Mescal] liked each other a lot as actors, as people. The characters are falling in love, so the actors know how to generate chemistry…
“They clearly have amazing chemistry, and they’re really good friends now, and they care and love for each other. So, something magical happened. I’m very grateful for that.”
All Of Us Strangers is in UK cinemas today.
The Salt Path author Raynor Winn’s fourth book has been delayed by her publisher.
It comes amid claims that the author lied about her story in her hit first book. Winn previously described the claims as “highly misleading” and called suggestions that her husband had Moth made up his illness “utterly vile”.
In a statement, Penguin Michael Joseph, said it had delayed the publication of Winn’s latest book On Winter Hill – which had been set for release 23 October.
The publisher said the decision had been made in light of “recent events, in particular intrusive conjecture around Moth’s health”, which it said had caused “considerable distress” to the author and her family.
“It is our priority to support the author at this time,” the publisher said.
“With this in mind, Penguin Michael Joseph, together with the author, has made the decision to delay the publication of On Winter Hill from this October.”
A new release date will be announced in due course, the publisher added.
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Winn’s first book, released in 2018, detailed the journey she and husband took along the South West Coast Path – familiarly known as The Salt Path – after they lost their family farm and Moth received a terminal health diagnosis of Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD).
But a report in The Observer disputed key aspects of the 2018 “true” story – which was recently turned into a film starring Jason Isaacs and Gillian Anderson.
Raynor and husband Moth (centre) with actors Jason Isaacs (L) and Gillian Anderson (R). Pic: Steve Tanner/Black Bear
Experts ‘sceptical of health claims’
As part of the article, published last weekend, The Observer claimed to have spoken to experts who were “sceptical” about elements of Moth’s terminal diagnosis, such as a “lack of acute symptoms and his apparent ability to reverse them”.
In the ensuing controversy, PSPA, a charity that supports people with CBD, cut ties with the couple.
The Observer article also claimed the portrayal of a failed investment in a friend’s business wasn’t true, but said the couple – whose names are Sally and Tim Walker – lost their home after Raynor Winn embezzled money from her employer and had to borrow to pay it back and avoid police action.
Anderson played Winn in a movie about the couple’s journey. Pic: Steve Tanner/Black Bear
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It also said that, rather than being homeless, the couple had owned a house in France since 2007.
Winn’s statement said the dispute with her employer wasn’t the reason the couple lost their home – but admitted she may have made “mistakes” while in the job.
“For me it was a pressured time,” she wrote. “It was also a time when mistakes were being made in the business. Any mistakes I made during the years in that office, I deeply regret, and I am truly sorry.”
She admitted being questioned by police but said she wasn’t charged.
The author also said accusations that Moth lied about having CBD/CBS were false and had “emotionally devastated” him.
“I have charted Moth’s condition with such a level of honesty, that this is the most unbearable of the allegations,” Winn wrote on her website.
The first fan started queuing before 8am.
Heaton Park, just north of Manchester City centre, is tonight hosting 80,000 fans who’ve come to see the Gallaghers’ homecoming.
“I would honestly say it’s a real cultural moment of the 21st century,” says Sam, who’s from Manchester and has come here with a group of friends – including one who has travelled from Australia for the gig.
Oasis fans wear band T-shirts with the almost obligatory bucket hats. Pic: Reuters
This will be the fourth time Sam has seen Oasis play, although obviously not for many years, and he says he can’t wait for the moment the band comes on to the stage.
“The reaction from the fans, that’s going to be really special,” he says. “This band means so much to the North West.”
Like many people attending tonight’s concert, Sam is wearing a bucket hat.
Liam Gallagher’s iconic headgear has become a part of the band’s cultural legacy and they are certainly on display here, with street vendors popping up all around the park’s perimeter.
Another fan, Dean, tells me he feels incredibly lucky to have got a ticket at all.
“I had seven devices out when the tickets were released and I didn’t get one,” he says. “And then about three days ago, a friend of mine messaged to say she couldn’t make it.
“So I made it. £120 with coach travel there and back – perfect.”
Dom has flown from half a world away to be in Manchester tonight
Dom is another fan who has come from Australia for the gig.
“We’re frothing to be here, like so stoked,” he says, “The atmosphere is going to be electric.”
Read more:
Review – Oasis reunite for first gig in 16 years
A timeline of Britpop’s most successful band
One young couple are here on their honeymoon. From Italy, they met at a Liam Gallagher concert several years ago.
“It’s where we fell in love,” Claudia says. “And we got married last month so we wanted to be here to celebrate.”
Amanda, from Manchester, is also here with a loved one – well, sort of.
Amanda has found a way to make sure her son, who lives in Australia, is there in spirit
She’s wearing a paper cut-out mask of her 30-year-old son Harry’s face.
“He’s in Melbourne and got a ticket but then couldn’t come,” Amanda explains.
“And so Harry doesn’t feel left out,” she says pulling the mask down over her face, “we’ve brought him with us!”
Entertainment
Chris Brown: R&B singer denies further charges following alleged bottle attack in London club
R&B singer Chris Brown has denied further charges following an alleged bottle attack in a London nightclub.
The 36-year-old pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) to music producer Abraham Diaw, during a hearing at Southwark Crown Court on Friday.
Brown also denied one count of having an offensive weapon – a bottle – in a public place.
Chris Brown arriving at Southwark Crown Court on Friday. Pic: PA
The Grammy-winning US musician last month pleaded not guilty to a more serious charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent to Mr Diaw.
The attack allegedly happened at the Tape venue, a private members’ club in Hanover Square, Mayfair, on 19 February 2023.
The plea hearing is part of preparations for his five to seven-day trial, which is due to take place from 26 October 2026.
Brown’s co-defendant, US national Omololu Akinlolu, 39, on Friday pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting Mr Diaw occasioning him actual bodily harm.
Akinlolu, a rapper who goes by the name Hoody Baby, has previously pleaded not guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.
Brown’s co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu arrives at court. Pic: Reuters
The defendants sat side-by-side in the dock, looking straight ahead during the hearing in London.
Around 20 fans sat in the public gallery behind the dock for Friday’s hearing, with several gasping as Brown walked into the courtroom.
The Go Crazy singer was able to continue with his scheduled international tour after he was freed on conditional bail in May.
He had to pay a £5m security fee to the court as part of the bail agreement, which is a financial guarantee to ensure a defendant returns to court and may be forfeited if they breach bail conditions.
Read more:
Chris Brown posts message after being released on bail
Mr Diaw was standing at the bar of the Tape nightclub when he was struck several times with a bottle, and then pursued to a separate area of the venue where he was punched and kicked repeatedly, Manchester Magistrates’ Court previously heard.
Brown was arrested at Manchester’s Lowry Hotel at 2am on 15 May by detectives from the Metropolitan Police.
He is said to have flown into Manchester Airport on a private jet in preparation for the UK tour dates.
Brown was released from HMP Forest Bank in Salford, Greater Manchester, on 21 May.
The singer, who rose to stardom as a teenager in 2005, won his first Grammy award for best R&B album in 2011 for F.A.M.E..
He earned his second in the same category for 11:11 (Deluxe) earlier this year.
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