Paul Mescal Says He’s Drawn to Characters ‘Regardless of Sexuality’ (Exclusive)

Paul Mescal is discussing what he connects most with in the characters he plays.

Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at The History of Sound premiere in New York City on Tuesday, Sept. 2, the actor, 29, said he picks roles “regardless of sexuality” as he shared what qualities drew him to his latest character in the film.

“I think I’m drawn to characters regardless of their sexuality,” Mecal says. “I think, like, I’m learning more and more as I kind of do this job that, unless I have something to say about who these people are, unless I fundamentally know or have a distinct opinion about them, I won’t do it.”

“I love Lionel,” he says of his character in the film. “He’s the longest I’ve lived with any character. I’ve waited five years to get to play him, and I’m so grateful that I did. I think he’s an extraordinary man.”

In The History of Sound, Mescal plays Lionel Worthing, a talented singer from rural Kentucky who leaves his family farm to attend the Boston Music Conservatory. There he meets student David White (played by Josh O’Connor) and the pair develop an intimate relationship, per a synopsis.

Mescal tells PEOPLE acting with close friend O’Connor, 35, as lovers in the film “didn’t make things awkward” and described filming together as a “fun” summer camp-like experience.

“I think because the subject matter is generally quite heavy. Josh and I, for whatever reason it was, just kind of rallied against that as much as we could,” he says. “It was pretty light offset. It’s like one of the best jobs in the world. When you get paired with a friend of yours already that you admire so much … it’s kind of like a summer camp, getting to hang out with your friend … So it was fun.”

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Mescal went on to say that his close friendship with O’Connor made the journey of their characters in The History of Sound even more powerful and emotionally connecting.

“We entered the filming process knowing each other very well, and then at the end of it, it just was the perfect junction that we entered it at because we had so much room to go when we started filming [and we] really got incredibly close afterwards,” he tells PEOPLE.

The History of Sound is in theaters Sept. 12.