2019: Drama teacher in Dublin, earning £400/week.
April 2020: Normal People airs, becomes global phenomenon.
2022: Oscar-nominated for Aftersun at age 26.
2024: Cast as lead in Gladiator II for $5 million.
Time from unknown to A-list: 4 years.
This is how Paul Mescal went from teaching teenagers to becoming the fastest-rising male film star since Timothée Chalamet—through one perfect TV performance and strategic film choices.
The Pre-Fame Struggle (1996-2020)
Born February 2, 1996
Birthplace: Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland
Family:
- Father: Garda (Irish police)
- Mother: Also Garda
- Working-class Irish background
Early passion: Gaelic football (seriously competitive)
Age 16: Gave up football for acting
Family reaction: Skeptical
The risk: Trading sports career for uncertain acting path
Drama School (2013-2017)
School: The Lir Academy, Trinity College Dublin
Training: Classical theater
Graduation: 2017
Debt: Student loans
Age at graduation: 21
Employment prospects: Limited
The Struggle Years (2017-2019)
Work: Small theater productions
Pay: £200-400/week
Day job: Drama teacher
Location: Dublin
Auditions: Constant rejections
Status: Unknown, struggling
Age: 21-23
The grind: Years of nothing
The Audition (2018)
Role: Connell in Normal People (BBC/Hulu adaptation)
Book: Sally Rooney's bestseller
The challenge: Thousands auditioned
His tape: Self-taped audition
Director's reaction: "That's Connell"
Callback: Multiple rounds
The wait: Months
Result: Got the role (late 2018)
His salary: £15,000 per episode (12 episodes = £180,000)
Life change: First real money ever
Normal People Phenomenon (2020)
April 26, 2020: Launch
Timing: Peak COVID lockdown
Platform: BBC Three (UK), Hulu (US)
Format: 12 episodes, 30 minutes each
Based on: Sally Rooney's novel
Co-star: Daisy Edgar-Jones
Director: Lenny Abrahamson (Room)
The Story
Characters: Connell and Marianne
Setting: Ireland, school to university
Relationship: On-again, off-again romance
Themes: Class, intimacy, communication
The hook: Devastatingly real
The Performance
Connell's challenge:
- Working-class Irish athlete
- Emotionally vulnerable but repressed
- Deeply felt but unable to express
Paul's approach:
- Complete vulnerability
- No vanity
- Total emotional honesty
The sex scenes:
- Numerous, intimate
- Choreographed carefully
- Felt real, not performative
Key moment: Crying in therapy scene
Impact: Men everywhere related
May 2020: Cultural Phenomenon
Viewership: 62 million streams (BBC record)
Social media: #NormalPeople trending globally
Memes: Connell's chain became iconic
Fan reaction: Obsessive
Critical response: Universal acclaim
Paul's status: Overnight heartthrob
The chain: His character's necklace became sold-out merchandise
The Impact
Before: Unknown drama teacher
After: International sex symbol
Instagram: Went from 2K to 2 million+ followers
Career: Every agent wanted him
Offers: Scripts flooding in
The problem: Which projects to choose?
The Strategic Film Choices (2021-2022)
The Lost Daughter (2021)
Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal (directorial debut)
Co-stars: Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson
Role: Young lifeguard
Type: Small but crucial part
Significance: Working with prestige director
Cannes: Premiered to acclaim
The strategy: Choose quality over size
God's Creatures (2022)
Setting: Irish coastal village
Co-star: Emily Watson
Role: Son accused of assault
Type: Challenging, morally complex
Platform: A24 (prestige indie)
The choice: Another risky, small film
Aftersun (2022)
Director: Charlotte Wells (debut feature)
Budget: $3 million
Role: Calum, depressed father on holiday with daughter
Co-star: Frankie Corio (child actress)
Shooting: 20 days in Turkey
His salary: £200,000
The risk: Tiny indie, unknown director
The Performance in Aftersun
Character: Father hiding depression from 11-year-old daughter
The challenge: Show pain while hiding it
Key scenes:
- Tai chi alone
- Birthday party breakdown
- Final dance sequence
Approach: Subtle, devastating
The scene: Under Pressure dance (became iconic)
May 2022: Cannes Premiere
Festival: Cannes Film Festival
Screening: Critics' Week section
Response: Standing ovation
Reviews: "Career-defining performance"
Buzz: Immediate Oscar talk
Paul's reaction: Overwhelmed
Age: 26
The Awards Season (2022-2023)
Critics' groups: Won 20+ awards
Golden Globes: Nominated
BAFTAs: Nominated
SAG Awards: Nominated
March 12, 2023: Oscar Nomination
Category: Best Actor
Age: 27 (youngest nominee that year)
Competition:
- Brendan Fraser (The Whale) - won
- Austin Butler (Elvis)
- Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin)
- Bill Nighy (Living)
Result: Didn't win, but arrived as serious actor
Salary boost: Now $2-3 million per film
Gladiator II (2024)
The Casting (2022)
Film: Sequel to 2000's Gladiator
Director: Ridley Scott
Lead role: Lucius (nephew from first film)
Budget: $310 million
Paul's salary: $5 million
The jump: From £15K/episode to $5M blockbuster
The Transformation
Physical: Gained 30 pounds of muscle
Training: 6 months of intense workouts
Fighting: Gladiator combat training
The look: Completely different from Normal People
Age during filming: 27
November 2024: Release
Box office: Projected $500+ million
Reviews: Strong
Paul's performance: Held his own against Denzel Washington
Career milestone: Blockbuster leading man
Next film salary: $8-10 million
The Personal Life
The Relationships
Phoebe Bridgers (2020-2022):
- Met through mutual friends
- Musician, indie darling
- Public but low-key
- Broke up amicably
Gracie Abrams (2023-2024):
- Singer-songwriter
- Very private
- Brief relationship
Current: Single (reportedly)
The Image
Style: Casual, doesn't try
Social media: Minimal posting
Interviews: Honest, sometimes too honest
Reputation: Down-to-earth, no ego
Ireland: Still lives there when not filming
The difference: Didn't move to LA
The Rising Trajectory (2020-2024)
Earnings Progression
2019: £400/week teaching
2020: £180,000 (Normal People)
2022: £200,000 (Aftersun)
2024: $5 million (Gladiator II)
Total career earnings: $8-10 million
Net worth: $5-8 million
Age: 28
Career Strategy
Pattern:
- Mix prestige indies with blockbusters
- Work with great directors
- Choose quality scripts
- No franchise commitments yet
Upcoming:
- More A24 films
- Potential franchise leads
- Producing ambitions
What Makes Him Different
The Vulnerability
Most male stars: Tough, closed-off
Paul: Emotionally open, vulnerable
Appeal: Women and men both respond
Authenticity: No fake machismo
The Choices
Could have: Done Marvel, franchise films immediately
Instead: Chose Aftersun, small films
Result: Respect + commercial appeal
Long game: Building serious career
The Irish Factor
Stayed in Ireland: Didn't chase Hollywood lifestyle
Accent: Kept it (doesn't do American)
Home: Modest apartment in Dublin
Grounded: Family still in Ireland
From £400/Week to $5 Million
2019: Drama teacher, struggling
2020: Normal People, overnight sensation
2023: Oscar nominee
2024: Gladiator II lead
2025: Next generation's leading man
Time span: 5 years from unknown to A-list
The Lesson
The formula:
One perfect role (Normal People)
-
Strategic indie choices (Aftersun)
-
Vulnerability (what made him stand out)
-
Staying grounded (Ireland, family)
= Fastest male star ascent in a decade
From teaching drama to leading Gladiator II.
From £400/week to $5 million per film.
From unknown to Oscar nominee.
In just 4 years.
That's Paul Mescal.
The reluctant movie star who became unavoidable.
By being honest, vulnerable, and choosing quality.
And he's only 28.
