Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut features Normal People star Paul Mescal

Irish heartthrob and Normal People star Paul Mescal has landed a role in
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut, The Lost Daughter.

Gyllenhaal, sister to Hollywood actor Jake, has also penned the script, which is an adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s 2006 novel of the same name.

Other stars who have already been confirmed for the feature film include Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson and Peter Sarsgaard.

The Lost Daughter tells the story of a college professor (Colman), who is forced to confront her troubled past after meeting a woman (Johnson) and
her young daughter while on holiday.

Speaking about the film to Variety, Gyllenhaal said: “When I finished reading Elena Ferrante’s The Lost Daughter, I felt that something secret and true had been said out loud. And I was both disturbed and comforted by that.

“I find that the script has attracted other people interested in exploring these secret truths about motherhood, sexuality, femininity and desire.”