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Actor Paul Mescal Alamy Stock Photo

Paul Mescal: I’ll do an obtuse play 'nobody wants to see' if Gladiator gives me global fame

The Irish actor addressed the prospect of worldwide fame and people going public about dating him in new interview.

IRISH ACTOR PAUL Mescal has said that if Gladiator 2 makes him become globally famous he will “have to move on and do an obtuse play nobody wants to see”.

The original film about a Roman general, called Maximus Decimus Meridius, who ends up in slavery after the murder of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, became a global hit and raised the profile of Russell Crowe.

Crowe won an Oscar for the movie, which received 12 Academy Award nominations, taking home five gongs.

In Gladiator 2, Sir Ridley Scott returns to direct and Connie Nielsen plays Lucilla alongside Mescal, with Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal also joining the cast.

Mescal, who will reportedly play the lead character of Lucius, Lucilla’s grown-up son, said he does not know what “difference” an increased level of fame could mean.

The Olivier Award winner told The Sunday Times: “Maybe that’s naive? Is it just that more people will stop you in the street? I’d get profoundly depressed if that’s so and hope it isn’t true.

“I’ll have an answer next year, but if (Gladiator 2) impacts my life in that way, I’ll be in a bad spot. I’d have to move on and do an obtuse play nobody wants to see.”

He also said that when he meets people it is generally OK but “if someone wants to be a dick and say that they went on a date with me, it doesn’t reflect poorly on me, it reflects poorly on them”.

Elsewhere in the interview, the Maynooth-born actor spoke about how toxic masculinity has “ruined the world”.

“Changing what it means to be a man isn’t an easy thing, there’s a lot of painful conversations to be had,” he said.

Mescal rose to fame for playing complex student Connell in hit BBC romantic series Normal People.

Last year, he was nominated for an Oscar and Bafta for Aftersun, about a father struggling with his mental health while on holiday with his daughter, and won an Olivier Award for a stage adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire.

His latest film, romantic fantasy drama All Of Us Strangers, sees him star opposite fellow Irish actor Andrew Scott.

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    Mute Annette
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    Jan 14th 2024, 2:47 PM

    Good luck with all of your endeavours. It’s great to see an Irish lad do well on the world stage.

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    Mute reg morrisey
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    Jan 14th 2024, 2:23 PM

    How do you make a sequel to top a movie like gladiator?. You don’t. I’m predicting this one will bomb.

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    Mute JuiGkBDA
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    Jan 14th 2024, 3:15 PM

    @reg morrisey: I’m hoping that it doesn’t, but with a couple of exceptions, that’s what sequels generally do unfortunately.

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    Mute brian o'leary
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    Jan 14th 2024, 3:23 PM

    @JuiGkBDA: anal pandemonium 2 was much better than the original.

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    Mute brian o'leary
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    Jan 14th 2024, 3:52 PM

    @reg morrisey: after 24 years it could nearly be classed as a remake.

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    Mute Setanta O'Toole
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    Jan 14th 2024, 5:34 PM

    @reg morrisey: same with Mean Girls, i mean let the classics be.

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    Mute HurdyGurdyMan
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    Jan 14th 2024, 8:15 PM

    @reg morrisey: Simple… call it Gladiators… more blood and guts for the mob… they’ll love it…

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    Mute Octaviolet
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    Jan 15th 2024, 11:39 AM

    @JuiGkBDA: see: Paddington 2

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    Mute Paul-B Loves Movies
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    Jan 14th 2024, 4:56 PM

    I’ll take his fame if he doesn’t want it. I hate when privileged people complain about the life they chose. Don’t wanna be noticed? Don’t be. Imagine being an actor and not wanting the public to care?

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    Mute Mike
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    Jan 14th 2024, 2:57 PM

    How is someone “being a d**k by saying they went on a date with him? If you’re going to copy and paste from other sites, maybe try to give some context.

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    Mute Murrey peter
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    Jan 14th 2024, 11:23 PM

    Average actor and zero personality

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    Mute Dvsespaña
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    Jan 14th 2024, 11:23 PM

    He sounds like a bit of a dik himself to be fair… He hopes people won’t stop him in the street, or claim they went on a date with him if he becomes globally famous in Gladiator 2?

    He should just get a job in Tesco and act in the local dramatic society’s plays, then he won’t have to suffer that burden.

    He spoke about how Toxic masculinity has ruined the world?? FFS!

    Such a load of weak minded woke herd mentality buzzword drivel, it would no doubt be hilarious to hear his opinions on what he believes constitutes toxic masculinity. The BS is strong with this one.

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    Mute Murrey peter
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    Jan 14th 2024, 11:24 PM

    @Dvsespaña: his ego is bigger than his talent

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    Mute Padraig O'Brien
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    Jan 14th 2024, 4:30 PM

    I saw him in a play years ago. The theatre was full that evening.

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    Mute Ron Jeremys Stunt Double
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    Jan 14th 2024, 5:46 PM

    @Padraig O’Brien: Was it the Great Gatsby in the Gate Theatre. He was terrific in the lead role.

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    Mute Sean
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    Jan 14th 2024, 6:58 PM

    “Sir” Ridley Scott!
    Hahahaha. The hacks around here are such embarrassing toadies!

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    Mute Corey Dalton
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    Jan 14th 2024, 8:28 PM

    @Sean: always grates, doesn’t it? This is supposed to be a republic.

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    Mute Sean
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    Jan 15th 2024, 6:58 AM

    @Corey Dalton: We don’t deserve to call ourselves a republic ats

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    Mute Padraig O'Brien
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    Jan 15th 2024, 11:19 AM

    @Ron Jeremy’s stunt double
    It was The Lieutenant of Inishmore.

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