Podcast Summary: The Run-Through with Vogue –
Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor on Adele, Fan Letters, and Learning to Pose on the Red Carpet
Date: September 15, 2025
Hosts: Chloe Malle, Marlie Marius (Vogue)
Guests: Paul Mescal, Josh O'Connor
Episode Overview
This special bonus episode of The Run-Through with Vogue dives into the creative partnership and real lives of acclaimed actors Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor. The duo, currently starring as leads in The History of Sound, join Vogue editors Chloe Malle and Marlie Marius for a candid, wide-ranging conversation. They reflect on the deep roots of their friendship, the joys and complexities of embodying emotionally intense roles, their shared love of music, hobbies outside acting, and the often awkward realities of public-facing fashion moments—especially on the red carpet.
Main Discussion Points & Insights
1. Origins of a Friendship and Collaborative Chemistry
[02:24-05:47]
- First Meeting: Paul and Josh met over Zoom during the COVID-19 lockdown, sparked by Josh reaching out after admiring Paul's work in Normal People.
"I wrote to my agent to say, I just watched this thing, Normal People, and this guy is incredible." – Josh O'Connor [02:54]
- Mutual Admiration: Both actors were already fans of each other's work (God's Own Country, Only You) and describe breaking the industry’s competitive mold in favor of open camaraderie.
"It's always felt redundant to me in this industry ... I think it makes it all a lot more palatable if you can admire somebody else's work and not feel like in competition." – Paul Mescal [03:46]
- Deepening Friendship: Their creative rapport grew before and during The History of Sound, with shared tastes and an appreciation for each other's commitment.
2. Process and Emotional Risk of Acting
[04:51-08:15]
- Work Approach: Both describe their acting as giving "a part of yourself" for a role, particularly with emotionally heavy material.
"With Paul specifically, something of Paul is left behind in that character. And that was interesting to me." – Josh O'Connor [05:48]
- On-Set Levity: Despite the film's elegiac tone, the actors maintained a "cheeky" atmosphere off-camera out of necessity.
"There was a lot of giggles in between. But I think it was out of, like, a necessity because the subject matter was so..." – Josh O'Connor [06:24]
- Balance of Fun and Pain:
"I don't think all work that is worthy is painful to do... That three weeks that we were together was the height of that for me across my entire career." – Paul Mescal [07:16]
3. Preparation and Long-Term Investment in Roles
[09:08-11:19]
- Five-Year Journey: The actors first received the script in 2020 and carried the story with them for years before filming.
"It's been like five years and definitely the longest it's been for me from like reading something to getting it done." – Paul Mescal [09:10]
- Slow Burn: Having years to contemplate these characters allowed deep preparation—"it's kind of meditative in tone," Paul notes.
- Friendship as Resource: The actors' real friendship made their on-screen relationship organic and authentic.
4. Music: From Folk to Adele to Playing McCartney
[11:19-15:44, 17:41-19:07]
-
Folk Music Roots: Paul relates the film's music to Irish traditions, while Josh enjoyed immersing himself in new songs for the project.
-
Learning Instruments: Josh had to learn piano basics ("I knew how to play one Adele song") for the film.
-
Vocal Training: Both underwent “de-training,” guided by folk singer Sam Amadon, to keep their singing natural.
"He would often say, just, like, put no effect on the voice and let the song be the song." – Paul Mescal [13:04]
- Personal Playlists:
- Paul: Jake Minch, Adele, Laura Marling
- Josh: Revisiting teenage indie favorites, admits writing a love letter to Laura Marling at 16.
"I wrote her a love letter when I was 16 ... I put in a sort of autumnal leaf." – Josh O'Connor [15:15, 16:07]
- Beatles Biopic: Paul is currently learning to play guitar left-handed for his role as Paul McCartney.
"Paul McCartney's famously left handed. I'm not left handed, so that's a challenge." – Paul Mescal [17:54]
5. Life Off-Screen: Ceramics, Gardening, and Camper Vans
[19:45-22:29]
- Creative Hobbies: Josh downplays being called a "ceramicist" ("I'm certainly not a ceramicist. I like making pots."), details his gardening and beekeeping.
"At the moment... I've just had a good crop of courgettes... rhubarb... two very brilliant fig trees..." – Josh O'Connor [20:39]
- Old Soul Reputation: Paul affectionately calls Josh "the oldest soul I know," describing his countryside lifestyle.
- Camper Van Farewell: Josh is selling his famously unreliable vintage DHL camper van after many memorable breakdowns.
6. Fashion and Red Carpet Realities
[22:30-29:26]
- Evolved Style: Paul credits stylist Felicity Kay for his sense of fashion, noting that collaboration—not obligation—is key.
"I feel very much the opposite ... It's such an amazing privilege to have like these fashion houses go away and make these things specifically for you to wear." – Paul Mescal [23:04]
- Red Carpet Nerves: Both admit that posing on the red carpet feels unnatural and exposing.
"I don't think I'm great at having my picture taken ... when I see a video of it, it's shocking." – Paul Mescal [24:45]
- Embarrassing Moments: Josh shares a disastrous first Met Gala, accidentally skipping photo ops ("I didn't get a single photograph the whole...").
"I'm waiting in line... I see, like, an entrance, some steps, and they go, okay, Josh, off you go. And I went, thanks very much. Straight up the stairs, straight in... didn't get a single photograph." – Josh O'Connor [27:19]
- Iconic Shorts: Paul defends his famous short shorts as part of Irish boyhood ("Happy to promote the agenda of short shorts for boys. I think it's an important evolution in the story of shorts."). [28:40]
7. Rapid-Fire ‘Would You Rather’ & Miscellaneous
[30:31-36:21]
-
Would You Rather: A playful segment covers music, fashion, parties, and lifestyle choices.
- One song forever: Paul chooses Laura Marling’s “For You”; Josh picks Nick Cave’s “Galleon Ship.”
- Minimalism vs maximalism: Both land on "mediumalism."
- Custom vs off-the-rack: Split answers—Paul prefers tailoring, Josh goes for vintage.
- Sweet vs salty: Josh, salty; Paul oscillates.
- Casual vs formal: Both favor casual wear.
- Red carpet or after party: Both prefer the after party.
- Ice bath vs sauna: Ice bath for both, with caveats.
- Minor clothing annoyances: Both prefer socks slipping over pants falling.
- On cropped trousers: Josh is not a fan for himself; Paul is more flexible.
-
Josh’s Scrapbooks: He keeps a scrapbook for every project, last filled with a hand-embroidered mountain from History of Sound, symbolizing artistic growth.
"My first attempt at doing a kind of freestyle one was a little mountain... and that's on the last page of History of Sound." – Josh O'Connor [35:40]
Notable Quotes & Moments
-
On competitive industry dynamics:
"I'm highly competitive, but it's always felt redundant to me in this industry." – Paul Mescal [03:46]
-
On their friendship translating to the screen:
"We actually found ourselves being very light with it. And by light, I mean cheeky chat." – Josh O'Connor [06:13]
-
On performing music as actors:
"We're lucky that, like, when we're working, true things that are autobiographical to us generally are hidden under the veil of a character." – Paul Mescal [14:11]
-
On red carpet awkwardness:
"I stood in front of the wall of photographers doing that, trying to do like ... They're like, can you give us something else? And you're like, no, not really." – Josh O'Connor [25:57]
-
On style evolution and iconic shorts:
"Happy to promote the agenda of short shorts for boys." – Paul Mescal [28:40]
-
On Paul's McCartney transformation:
"Paul McCartney's famously left handed. I'm not left handed, so that's a challenge." – Paul Mescal [17:54]
Key Timestamps for Notable Segments
- 01:59 – Start of interview with Paul Mescal & Josh O'Connor
- 02:24 – How Paul and Josh first connected
- 05:41 – Acting process and industry competition
- 11:19 – Relationship with folk music and film preparation
- 13:04 – Working with folk singer Sam Amadon
- 15:08 – Josh’s love letter to Laura Marling
- 17:54 – Paul discusses learning guitar for the Beatles film
- 19:45 – Josh’s ceramics, gardening, and camper van stories
- 22:30 – Fashion, stylists, and collaborating on red carpet looks
- 24:45 – The reality of red carpet awkwardness
- 27:19 – Josh’s Met Gala photo mishap
- 28:40 – Paul’s shorts as a style statement
- 30:31 – Rapid-fire “Would You Rather?” game
- 35:40 – Josh’s film scrapbooks and embroidery story
Tone & Style
Playful, open-hearted, and candid—the guests joke frequently, speak honestly about vulnerability, and maintain a tone that ranges from self-deprecating humor to quiet reflection. The warmth of their friendship and collaborative spirit shines throughout.
For Listeners:
Whether you’re a cinephile, style enthusiast, or simply love hearing stars pull back the curtain on their craft and real lives, this episode delivers with laughter, humility, and rich creative insight.