Irish Actor Reflects on Surprising Encounter with British Monarch
Paul Mescal recently shared his candid thoughts about meeting King Charles III during the London premiere of Gladiator II. The event, held on November 13 at the Odeon Lux theatre in Leicester Square, brought together the film’s cast, including Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, and director Ridley Scott.
Speaking to Variety at a Gladiator event in Los Angeles on November 18, the Normal People star reflected on the unexpected experience. “Never met the king [before that night],” said the 28-year-old Irish actor.
“It’s definitely not something that I thought was in the bingo cards,” Paul admitted. “I’m, like, Irish, so it’s not kind of on the list of priorities.”
Despite the surprise, Paul acknowledged the significance of the moment for Gladiator II’s director, Ridley Scott. “It’s an amazing thing for Ridley because I know how important that is for him,” he said. “So, to see his film celebrated in that context was pretty special.”
Recalling the brief exchange with King Charles, Paul confessed, “I found it kind of hard to hear exactly what [Charles] was saying … so you’re just kind of nodding along and, just, smiling.”
Gladiator II is set to hit theatres on November 22, and the star-studded premiere marked an unforgettable milestone in Paul’s growing career.
