The character of Mackay is portrayed by Angus Cloud in the HBO television series Euphoria. Though his age is not explicitly stated in the show, some clues about Mackay’s age can be inferred based on the context of Euphoria.
Clues about Mackay’s Age
Here are some details that provide clues about how old Mackay is meant to be in Euphoria:
- He is a high school student at East Highland High School, the same school that the main characters Rue, Jules, and Nate attend.
- He is shown hanging out with and selling drugs to high school students, implying he is around the same age.
- His character is a drug dealer but does not own a car or apartment, suggesting he likely still lives at home with parents.
- The actors playing high school students in Euphoria range in age from 19 to 29, so Mackay’s actor Angus Cloud would likely be on the younger end of that spectrum.
Mackay’s Grade in School
Though his exact age is not confirmed, context clues indicate that Mackay is most likely a high school junior or senior:
- In season 1 episode 2, he mentions having to “retake 11th grade.” This suggests he is either an older 11th grader or a 12th grader who failed 11th grade previously.
- Rue refers to him as “a junior” when mentioning him to Jules, implying he is likely in 11th grade.
- He is not shown attending classes or doing schoolwork, implying he may be an older student close to graduation.
Mackay’s Approximate Age
Given these clues, the character of Mackay in Euphoria is most likely:
- 16 or 17 years old if he is meant to be a junior in the 11th grade.
- 17 or 18 years old if he is meant to be a senior who previously failed 11th grade.
Most American high school juniors are 16-17 years old and seniors are 17-18 years old. So even though his exact age isn’t confirmed, Mackay is realistically portrayed as a student of that typical age range.
The Actor’s Actual Age
For additional context, the actor who plays Mackay, Angus Cloud, was around 23 years old when Euphoria first aired in 2019. Cloud was born in 1997 and would have been 21 or 22 during filming.
So in real life, Angus Cloud is several years older than the high school junior/senior age of his Mackay character.
Conclusion
Though Mackay’s exact age is never explicitly stated on Euphoria, context clues indicate the character is intended to be a high school junior or senior between the ages of 16-18. Meanwhile, actor Angus Cloud was in his early 20s when he took on the role of the younger Mackay. This age difference between actor and character is common practice for high school dramas.