Best known for his starring role in the 'Ballyhaunis' Denny Sausages ad and an appearance in a little series called Normal People, Paul Mescal has had an unprecedented rise to fame in unprecedented circumstances.
With little to no TV experience, the 24-year-old's role as Connell - a chain wearing Sligo man with enraging communication issues - has shot to global fame while the world has been forced into lockdown due to a global pandemic.
You really couldn't write it.
WTF IS HAPPENING!!! https://t.co/zDRbiYnui5
— Paul Mescal (@mescal_paul) May 7, 2020
Thanks to the social distancing restrictions, Mescal and his co-star, Daisy Edgar-Jones, have experienced a sudden swell of fame and acclaim through the screens of their phones; reading online reviews, appearing on The Late Late Show with James Cordon via Skype and, of course, following the viral-worthy reactions to the show on Liveline.
May we never forget this iconic intro on #LiveLine this week...
— Ste Murray (@murray_ste) May 2, 2020
Here's a video tribute I made for our zoom quiz and which my mates have subsequently bullied me into uploading. #JoeDuffy #NormalPeople #PornoMovie pic.twitter.com/MBXDBMYBtA
Their rise to fame has been undoubtedly strange, as has the rest of 2020, but one thing remains steadfast through these curious times - Twitter's unabashed love for whatever Paul Mescal wears.
First, it was the chain. The silver chain that launched 165k followers on an Instagram set up by Billie Bhatia, the fashion features editor of Stylist Magazine. The chain that will soon be auctioned of by Mescal in order to raise funds for Pieta. The chain that got its own Twitter emoji.
Now, however, it is Mescal's own personal wardrobe that has set fans' hearts aflutter.
Staying true to his roots, the Maynooth man wore an outfit that would make Connell proud; pairing some white GAA shorts with a colourful Adidas jacket to step out to the shops for a few tins of pink gin and a packet of prawn cocktail crisps.
Safe to say, fans were beside themselves on seeing the star's latest look.
No man has ever done so much for O'Neills in such a short space of time pic.twitter.com/PClnn32u6V
— Aifric Ní Chríodáin (@aifreckle) May 26, 2020
They should probably start selling O'Neills GAA shorts in the sexy lingerie aisle cuz they are 🔥 pic.twitter.com/cKRmOy4sBL
— James Kavanagh (@JamesKavanagh_) May 26, 2020
He might be an international star, but @mescal_paul is still rockin' his @maynoothgaa shorts! #NormalPeople pic.twitter.com/hDqxgExakm
— Maureen Catterson (@MoCatterson) May 26, 2020
tired: Connell's chain
— Kate Halliwell (@katehalliwell) May 26, 2020
wired: Paul Mescal’s short shorts pic.twitter.com/Uob2ss7wXX
did i save this picture of paul mescal or did it save me? pic.twitter.com/IduuzwZlir
— isabella hanlon (@bellshanlon) May 26, 2020
@ONeills1918 ...you've signed him, right? #NormalPeople #PaulMescal pic.twitter.com/pIyNmpkxyQ
— Deirdre Motherway (@dmotherway) May 26, 2020
Walking back to the campsite after losing all your mates and spending the night at the rave in the woods pic.twitter.com/BzseGHMu6K
— Justine Stafford (@JustineStafford) May 27, 2020
Even the man himself had to chip in on the commentary.
Arriving to training the tuesday after kicking a point from corner back... https://t.co/LdgYnv6GWI
— Paul Mescal (@mescal_paul) May 26, 2020
We can't wait to see what thirst-trap GAA wear the actor dons next.
