Paul Mescal's Rise to Fame

In a world turned upside down by a pandemic, Paul Mescal's life took a dramatic turn after his role in the acclaimed series “Normal People.”

The 24-year-old actor currently finds himself in self-isolation within his London apartment, as the city grapples with COVID-19 restrictions. Yet, the waves of change are beginning to ripple through his life. Calls for new roles are pouring in for the rising star, and his Instagram following has surged beyond 250,000. Surprisingly, even the chain worn by his character Connell has sparked an Instagram account dedicated to it.

“Normal People,” adapted from Sally Rooney’s 2018 novel, explores the intricate dynamics of first love between Connell, the reserved yet popular boy, and Marianne, his socially awkward but privileged classmate. The series, brought to life by co-directors Lenny Abrahamson and Hettie Macdonald, has garnered critical acclaim, with Mescal drawing comparisons to notable actors like Colin Farrell and Robert Pattinson.

In a recent conversation on a Variety after-show, Mescal delved into his journey to this breakout role, discussing the raw intimacy of the on-screen scenes and the fascination surrounding Connell’s chain.

Reflecting on his preparation, Mescal shared, “I was familiar with the book before it reached my hands. During a play in Dublin, I received the audition from my agent. Knowing it was based on Sally Rooney’s work, I quickly read the novel before my first audition round, eager to absorb its essence.”

He continued, “My acting background from the Lir Academy in Dublin made the process feel like home.”

The audition process began with a scene where Marianne enjoys ice cream, and during the second round, he revisited that same scene, marking his first encounter with director Lenny Abrahamson.Before Christmas two years ago, I had gone through two auditions that I felt went reasonably well.

However, it’s always hard to gauge the outcome. Then, my agent received an email from a casting director stating that I was the only male called back for chemistry readings, but there was no offer yet.

This was a bit overwhelming, as it was a mix of good news but not the final decision.

I auditioned alongside five fantastic actresses, but the role of Marianne wasn’t filled from that round. Thankfully, in the time between the first and second chemistry reads, I got some clarity.

It’s hard to explain, but it felt as if Connell and Marianne had their own dialogue, rather than just Daisy and me performing.

It felt organic and effortless.

Interestingly, the first scene we filmed was actually the first scene in the series, where Connell is nervous inside Marianne’s house.

My nerves mirrored Connell’s in that moment, which probably helped the scene feel authentic.

The initial two weeks of shooting took place in Marianne’s home, and after that, we moved around to different episodes. We filmed the first six episodes consecutively, followed by the next six.

I was apprehensive about portraying a character I truly admired.

It felt akin to a Jedi selecting his lightsaber—or maybe it's more like Harry Potter, where the wand chooses the wizard.

During costume fittings, I was excited about the detail of Connell wearing a chain, which isn’t very common these days. I wanted to incorporate that into the character, but it wasn’t available during my first fitting.

When I returned, the talented costume designer Lorna Marie Mugan presented me with several options, and one chain immediately felt right.

Its simplicity was striking, yet it spoke volumes about Connell, even if he wasn’t fully aware of it.

I can’t quite pinpoint what it signifies, but it certainly reflects his identity in a way that’s hard to articulate.

Throughout the filming process, I wore that chain continuously—it never came off.

Connell's Chain Journey

I had a spare chain, but I never intended to use it since I preferred wearing the one I had at home for convenience.

During the summer, I kept it on and even wore it leading up to filming because I genuinely liked it.

The attention Connell’s chain received truly surprised me. I never expected it to become such a talking point, and seeing it attract 20,000 followers is just amusing to me.

After filming wrapped, I gifted it to Daisy along with some photos. I won’t hold her accountable for misplacing it. When we returned for the show’s poster shoot, I needed it back, but it got misplaced amid the chaos of costumes. Thankfully, Lorna managed to find it, and I believe Daisy has it again now.

So, no need to send out a search party.

Daisy and I practiced with Lenny for a couple of weeks before we started filming. One day, Ita O’Brien, our intimacy coordinator, came in to guide us through what our filming days would entail. This preparation was incredibly helpful and eased some of the anxiety surrounding those scenes.

Throughout the process, both Daisy and I felt secure. Ita would check in on us each morning in our trailers, making sure we felt comfortable and discussing the nudity required for the day. Once on set, we would rehearse in casual clothing before having an open discussion with Lenny and Ita about our comfort levels. This approach gave both Daisy and me a sense of control and significantly reduced our nerves.

Family Viewing Experience

Watching the show with my parents was definitely an unusual experience.

We sat down together, and I had to brace myself for episode 2, which features a significant intimate scene.

Fortunately, my parents handled it gracefully, knowing beforehand what to expect from the show.

What truly matters to me is that I feel proud of the work I did; there was never any sense of discomfort during filming.

While it might be awkward to watch with family, I believe the scenes are portrayed authentically, and my family managed to enjoy the experience together.

Since the show aired, my life has shifted slightly, especially in terms of conversations with my amazing agents about potential future opportunities.

However, my daily routine remains largely unchanged, and I find solace in the structure of quarantine.

Music has always been a passion of mine, largely influenced by my sister, who is a talented musician and recently began releasing her own music.

We often discuss our musical tastes, and I’ve dabbled in playing the piano and enjoy singing.

To keep myself engaged during quarantine, I even ordered a keyboard for my apartment.

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