Normal People star Paul Mescal can’t imagine himself sitting in a rocking chair, reminiscing on ‘the good old days’ as an OAP.
In fact, the 28-year-old doesn’t expect himself to live long at all.
The Irish actor soon returns to the screen as he takes the lead in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II.
Ahead of the project, Paul undertook an extremely intense workout regime, previously revealing that he trained for 45 minutes, six days a week with a coach, keen to do the role of Lucius Verus justice by adapting his own training to suit that of a gladiator.
The physical transformation has made itself clear as Paul frequently flashes his muscly thighs in his famously tiny shorts while out walking in the city.
He’s also said he ‘likes’ exercise and doesn’t ‘dread’ it, having had someone on hand to tell him when and what to eat while getting him Gladiator ready.
Despite being on top of his game health-wise, though, Paul admitted in a new interview that he doesn’t see himself as a pensioner.
‘I’ve always been convinced that I’m not going to live a long life… It’s just like, a gut feeling,’ he told GQ’s November issue.
‘And maybe it’s to do with the fact that I can’t visualise myself as an 80-year-old man.’
Paul has become one of the biggest breakthrough acts in recent years since appearing in the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel in 2020.
Elsewhere in his interview with the magazine, he discussed his ‘workaholic’ tendencies, with his career moving at 100mph over the past four years.
‘My agent refers to me openly as a psychopath when it comes to work,’ he confessed.
‘I want this to never stop. So with that comes a kind of neurosis of control.’
But while he’s garnered a major fanbase since starring as the love interest of Daisy Edgar-Jones, Paul is keen to keep certain parts of his life private.
‘I’ve learned that there’s certain lines in the sand now for me that just are going to be impenetrable for the benefit of my own sanity.
‘I mean, the speculation has been kind of mad for the last X amount of years… I’m not comfortable inviting any access into that part of my life.’
He added that how he is behind closed doors is ‘so precious’ to him because he ‘gets very little of it’.
‘It might be public interest, but it’s not public-obligated information.’
The movie star was seemingly referring to speculation regarding his latest romance after he was photographed holding hands with musician Gracie Abrams.
Neither Paul nor the 24-year-old singer has confirmed they are an item, but it’s safe to say social media went wild when pics emerged of them looking cosy.
Sources have already confirmed they plan to keep their relationship ‘low-key’, having been keen to blend into the crowd while out in public and attending festivals together over summer.
Regardless of relationship status, though, we can’t see there being a shortage of fans queuing up to catch a glimpse of Paul in his latest role, with X already ablaze over his GQ photoshoot snaps in which he dons full leather and poses in the dirt, biceps tensed.
Gladiator II is released in cinemas on November 22, 2024.
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