Paul Mescal reveals he spent his first Normal People pay cheque on drinks for cast
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Last updated 20th Jan 2021
We were all obsessed with TV series Normal People when it first hit our screens during lockdown last year.
This saw relatively unknown Irish actor Paul Mescal, who played Connell Waldron in the BBC Three series, catapulted into international fame.
Paul, 24, seemed to attract a huge social media following almost overnight and now has over 1 million followers on Instagram. His statement chain necklace, which character Connell wore religiously in Normal People, even has its own fan-run account with over 100,000 followers!
Despite the huge success of Normal People, Paul has said that like many others, he found not working during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns difficult.
Paul told OK! Magazine: "I’ve struggled with the absence of work. A vast period of the day which would’ve been occupied is now totally unoccupied."
Like many others, Paul admitted he has turned to exercise to boost his mood. He added: "My life is a lot of Zoom calls and lots of running. I’ve been trying to get as much serotonin as I can. Serotonin is a wonderful thing."
Although Normal People was a best-selling book before it was a TV show, along with actor Daisy Edgar-Jones who plays Connell’s love interest Marianne, Paul Mescal has helped to rocket the show to critical acclaim.
Whilst the show itself was nominated for a number of awards including four Primetime Emmy Awards, Paul himself went on to win in the Breakthrough Actor category at the GQ Men of the Year Awards in 2020.
Amid the success of the show, Paul said how he spent his first pay packet on drinks for his fellow crewmates.
He said: "I did stupid things like buying the cast a round of drinks, which was pretty much my entire wage!"
Paul Mescal's career timeline...
2013: Gaelic football
Before his acting career took off, Paul played Gaelic football at a high level for Irish team Kildare GAA. Playing as a defender, Paul won a Leinster minor medal in 2013 and even went on to captain the team in 2014!
A jaw injury, as well as a love for acting, put Paul's football career on the back burner, but he was able to revisit it playing the role of Connell in Normal People.
2017: The Great Gatsby and more theatre shows
Fresh from graduating at The Lir Academy at Trinity College Dublin, Paul was offered the lead role in a theatre production of The Great Gatsby.
As well as playing the lead role of Jay Gatsby, Paul went on to play the Prince in a theatre production of The Red Shoes at the Gate Theatre in Dublin.
He has since appeared in a number of other theatre shows in Dublin, including The Plough and the Stars, Asking For It, and The Lieutenant of Inishmore.
2018: Denny's sausages
In 2018 Paul starred in a brilliant advert for Irish sausage company Denny's sausages!
The ad was titled 'Seize the Denny' and featured Paul tucking into some tasty looking sausages, before being inspired to go travelling by creator Henry Denny.
2020: Normal People
Paul got his big acting break in 2019 when it was announced he'd been cast as main character Connell Waldron in the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney's 2018 novel Normal People.
Starring alongside English actress Daisy Edgar-Jones, Paul plays the role of a college student, with the show following the will-they-won't-they relationship between the two lead characters.
Since the show first aired in April 2020, Paul's been shot into the limelight, receiving a tonne of praise across the world for his acting skills.
2020: The Late Late Show
After the success of Normal People not only in the UK, but around the globe, Paul appeared via video chat with his co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones, on The Late Late Show with James Corden.
In what was his first ever late night talk show appearance, Paul spoke about the amazing response Normal People has received.
2020: The Graham Norton Show
In May, Paul joined host Graham Norton for a chat over video call on The Graham Norton Show. As well as discussing the show, Paul found out just how much Normal People fans love Connell's chain.
2020: Save The Stories
In June 2020, Paul joined Save The Children's 'Save With Stories campaign' where he read out Elmer and Super El by author David McKee, a story about a friendship of two elephants.
2020: Emmy nomination
Following his amazing performance in Normal People, Paul was nominated for and Emmy in the category 'Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie'.
Paul's Normal People co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones congratulated her friend online, writing, 'I could not be more proud of these two utterly incredible people, working with you both has been one of the greatest joys of my life. Also huge congrats to @louisekielycasting, you're incredible, and also Sally and Alice and @element_pictures, we smashed it 💥.' (sic)
2020: Virtual gig with Dermot Kennedy
Paul teamed up with Irish singer Dermot Kennedy in July 2020, for a special gig at the Natural History Museum in London.
Speaking about a potential collab between the pair in the future, Dermot said, "Who knows? I love the idea of Irish creatives looking out for each other and collaborating."
2020: The Deceived
Paul starred in four-part Channel 5 thriller The Deceived, playing the role of a volunteer firefighter called Sean.
The actor appeared alongside Hollyoaks and Peaky Blinders star Emmett J. Scanlan, Belgravia actress Emily Reid, and Derry Girls actor Ian McElhinney.
2021: The Lost Daughter
Paul played the role of Will in 2021 psychological drama film The Lost Daughter. Paul starred alongside a stellar cast including Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson, Jessie Buckley, Dagmara Domińczyk, Jack Farthing, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Peter Sarsgaard, and Ed Harris.
2022: Aftersun
In 2022, Paul featured in coming-of-age drama film Aftersun, playing the role of Calum Paterson. Following his appearance, Paul received a BAFTA Film nomination and an Oscar nomination for his role.
2022: God's Creatures
Also in 2022, Paul starred alongside the likes of Emily Watson, Aisling Franciosi, Declan Conlon and Toni O'Rourke in psychological drama film God's Creatures.
2022: Carmen
2022 was a busy year for Paul, with the actor also starring in musical drama Carmen. He played the role of Brian O'Hara alongside actors Melissa Barrera and Rossy de Palma.
2022-2023: A Streetcar Named Desire
Heading back into the world of theatre, Paul played the role of Stanley Kowalski in popular play A Streetcar Named Desire. Paul was awarded with an Olivier Award for Best Actor!
2023: Paul begins filming for Gladiator 2
2023 was an exciting year for Gladiator fans, as not only were talks heating up about Ridley Scott's iconic Oscar-winning 2000 film getting a sequel in 2024, but it was reported that it would star none other than Paul Mescal himself, playing the role of Lucius, the son of Lucilla. 2023 saw the actor begin filming for the highly-anticipated film, filming in various locations, including Ouarzazate, Morocco. It was then announced that Gladiator 2 was set for release in November 2024,
2024: All Of Us Strangers
Paul starred alongside fellow Irish actor Andrew Scott in romantic fantasy drama All Of Us Strangers. Although it officially premiered at a film festival in August 2023, the heartbreaking movie was released in cinemas in January 2024 and follows a writer who is forced to confront his childhood traumas. Paul won the British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Performance, as well as being nominated for a British Academy Film Award in the same category. It's now available to watch on Disney+.
2024: Gladiator 2 is released
On 15th November 2024, the highly-anticipated sequel film Gladiator II saw its cinematic release. Starring Paul, the film had an impressive cast including the likes of Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger and Peter Mensah - and even saw the welcomed return of Connie Nielsen, as Lucilla. Paul Mescal starred as Lucius, the son of Lucilla, years on from where the storyline ended in the original film. Find out everything you need to know about Gladiators 2, from cast, to plot, trailers and more.
Since Normal People, Paul went on to appear in Channel 5 drama The Deceived, and even starred in a music video for the Rolling Stones. He's now filming for the movie adaptation of opera Carmen.
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