‘It’s uncomfortable’: Paul Mescal wants you to know he is not Connell from Normal People

Solid information to have going forward.

Paul Mescal wants you (yes, you) to know that he is not Connell from Normal People. He is, in fact, a totally different person all together, which may come as somewhat of a shock to those among us who have presumed otherwise due to his consistent sporting of silver chains and GAA shorts. The actor said recently that although he understands the fascination that Connell has garnered, particularly among young women, he finds much of the obsession "weird." “To be honest, it’s uncomfortable," he told The Sun. "I’m not trying to be full of faux humility but it’s a weird thing when people are very quickly attracted to a character you play. “And I think that’s the thing I’m focusing on. I’m not Connell, I’m totally different to him." Mescal, who is currently living in London with fellow Normal People star India Mullen, added that he understands why people are attracted to Connell, but is adamant to remind fans that he, Paul Mescal, is nothing like him. "I think maybe what’s sexy about Connell is he’s kind of classic back-footed, aloof, smart," he said. “I’m definitely not back-footed or aloof." Mescal said similar recently on the I'm Grand Mam podcast, telling hosts PJ Kirby and Kevin Twomey that he was looking forward to dating after lockdown, but that he wanted to get a few things straight first. "This is for the record: if anyone ever dates me, I am not Connell and nor do I want to be him," he said. "It was kind of fun at the start, I was like 'Oh, this is mad, people think that Connell's sexy.' A weird thing has crept in where people DM and there's a feeling that maybe there's an anticipation that I'm him." The actor added, however, that he is looking forward to getting back onto the dating scene soon. "I'm trying not to think of it being weird because I think, we've been in lockdown for fucking months and I've has no opportunity to meet somebody new or being remotely intimate with anybody," he said. "I'm at the point now where I want to get married and settle down, you know that hysterical thing? If lockdown ever happens again I'm making sure that I'm married. But yeah, I am looking forward to dating." This comes after Mescal raised over €70,000 for Pietas House after raffling off one of his iconic chains.  The money raised in the campaign will go directly towards supporting the charity's vital services in suicide prevention.