Paul Mescal has spoken about the dark side of fan encounters (Photographer: Steve Harnacke, Stylist: Ben Schofield)
Paul Mescal has spoken of his ‘fury’ after a fan ‘grabbed his ass’.
The Oscar-nominated actor revealed that during a recent fan encounter, an admirer of his work touched him inappropriately.
The 27-year-old Irish actor confirmed he gave the fan a telling off, despite the situation being ‘uncomfortable for everyone’.
Speaking in a new interview, Paul explained he was approached outside London’s Almeida Theatre where he’s been starring as Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire.
After a woman asked for a photo with Paul, he said ‘she put her hand on my ass’.
‘I thought it was an accident,’ he continued when speaking to ES Magazine. ‘But the hand followed. I remember tensing up and feeling just, like, fury.’
Paul said he felt ‘fury’ over the interaction (Photographer: Steve Harnacke, Stylist: Ben Schofield)
The 27-year-old Irish actor confirmed he gave the fan a telling off, despite the situation being ‘uncomfortable for everyone’ (Photographer: Steve Harnacke, Stylist: Ben Schofield)
How did Paul react? ‘I turned to her and said, “What’re you doing? Take your hand off my ass,”’ he shared.
The Normal People actor also touched upon his sudden rise to fame after starring in the TV adaption of Sally Rooney’s critically acclaimed book, revealing he was once told by a fan they had a naked photo of him as their phone wallpaper.
Noting how ‘weird’ it felt to learn people had screengrabbed his nude scenes, Paul insisted he wouldn’t let it affect his creative choices, pointing to the importance of sexuality and nudity in art.
‘Plus, women have it much worse,’ he added.
However, despite the odd bad encounter, Paul emphasised that 97% of the time ‘fame is really nice’.
It comes after Paul’s mum Dearbhla Mescal raved about her ‘amazing’ night out at Sunday’s Baftas as she continues to undergo treatment for bone marrow cancer.
The Normal People actor also touched upon his sudden rise to fame (Photographer: Steve Harnacke, Stylist: Ben Schofield)
Paul’s mum Dearbhla Mescal raved about her ‘amazing’ night out at Sunday’s Baftas (Picture: Gareth Cattermole/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA)
Dearbhla, who was Paul’s guest at the star-studded bash, said: ‘These past few days feel like I was in a movie… my heart is just so very grateful.’
Paul is the eldest of three siblings and Dearbhla and her husband (also called Paul) are also doting parents to daughter Nell and son Donnacha.
Nell revealed the sad news of her mother’s upcoming chemotherapy treatment the same day it was announced that her older brother had received an Oscar nomination for his role in Aftersun.
The musician shared on social media: ‘my mum got a haircut today in prep for her chemotherapy and then paul got nominated for an oscar life is so crazy [sic].’
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Speaking to the Mirror about her night at the Baftas, Dearbhla added: ‘What an amazing, amazing gift this was to be part of this incredible, crazy ride.’
Dearbhla was dressed by Gucci for the ceremony and appeared in high spirits while posing with her son at the bash.
The full Paul Mescal interview comes out in ES Magazine Thursday 23 February 2023.
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