G’wan Paul.
With Awards Season in full swing, Ireland’s own Paul Mescal is set to appear on this week’s Late Late Show on RTÉ One.
There has been plenty of buzz surrounding the Kildare actor following his performance in Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun. In the film, Paul plays Calum, a young father who takes his daughter Sophie (Frankie Corio) on a holiday to Turkey.
Mescal’s portrayal of Calum garnered him his first ever Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture. As well as being up against Colin Farrell for The Banshees of Inisherin, Paul’s competition includes Austin Butler (Elvis), Brendan Fraser (The Whale), and Bill Nighy (Living).
Last night saw Paul Mescal attend the BAFTAs in London, where he was nominated for Best Actor. However, he missed out, with Austin Butler nabbing the gong on the night. Having said that, this wasn’t his first BAFTA nomination. In 2021, he scooped the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor for his performance in Normal People. Paul played Connell Walrdon in Lenny Abrahamson’s adaption of Sally Rooney’s novel, a job which catapulted his career.
Recently, Paul reflected on another star-making performance of his – the Dennys sausages ad.
In it, Paul plays a teenager who, inspired by the life of Mr Denny’s sons, decides to travel the world. He spins a globe and promises to voyage to the first place he lands on.
“Bali,” his dad beams. And then later as the scene changes to a shot of Paul on a bus, he finishes saying “Haunis. Ballyhaunis.”
In an interview on BBC Radio 4, he explained how he ended up eating every sausage on set, despite being offered a bucket to spit them out between takes.
“I also didn’t know that you’re not supposed to eat them all,” he said. “They came around with a bucket that you’re supposed to spit them into, and that just felt rude to me. But I’ve learned my lesson that it’s better to do that than have to eat 15 sausages in a morning, that was an experience.”
Related links:
- Paul Mescal shares some behind-the-scenes intel on that iconic Dennys ad
- Colin Farrell had the best reaction to his Oscar nomination
- BBC apologises after calling Paul Mescal British during Oscar coverage
