Paul Mescal, 28, reveals he’s ‘convinced I’m not going to live a long life’: ‘It’s a gut feeling, hopefully I’m wrong’
Paul Mescal has revealed he is ‘convinced he will not live a long life’.
The 28-year-old actor, who is at the peak of his physical fitness for his starring role in Gladiator II, said in a candid interview about death that he has a “gut feeling” he will die young.
‘I have always been convinced that I will not live a long life. People have this reaction, but in my mind it’s never been drastic. It’s like a gut feeling,” he said GQ magazine.
‘Maybe it has to do with the fact that I can’t visualize myself as an 80-year-old man. I’m also afraid of death. So I think if death were to strike me at the age of 55, I would be as afraid of it as I was at the age of 90. I don’t believe anyone who says, “I’m ready.” I’m like, “Bulls**t!”.
Paul said he “always” thought he wouldn’t live to be old, but hopes he’s wrong.
Paul Mescal has revealed he is ‘convinced he will not live a long life’
The actor, 28, who is at the peak of physical fitness for his starring role in Gladiator II (pictured), said he has a ‘gut feeling’ he will die young in candid interview about death
He added: βIt’s always in my head. I thought: I’m going to start a family young. I’m not going to survive long. Hopefully I’m wrong. I think I must be wrong. But that’s just the truth about my brain.’
It comes after Paul revealed he found training for Gladiator 2 ‘amazing’, despite how physically demanding it was.
The Irish actor will be released later this year and will take on the role of Roman Empire Lucius Verus, the adult son of Lucilla, who is portrayed as a child in the Oscar-winning 2000 original starring Russell Crowe.
But the Normal People star said he couldn’t bring himself to quit drinking or smoking as he worked on his ripped physique for the film.
‘I was terrified that they would take away everything, like drinking and me smoking. All in good fun,β he said.
Paul went on to say that he asked his fitness trainer Tim Blakeley to help him integrate drinking and smoking into his strict training regime.
“I said very seriously, ‘Look, Tim, I’m going to drink and smoke for a while longer if I can,'” Paul recalled.
βHe very graciously incorporated them, not into the training routine, but just into my life.β
Paul may have risen to fame playing the bookish Connell Waldron in Normal People in 2020, but audiences will see him in a whole new light during Gladiator II.
On Monday, the cast of Gladiator held a press conference at the Tokyo International Film Festival, where the film will premiere
The cast of Gladiator II posed for a photo (L-R Denzel Washington, Paul Danish actress Connie Nielsen and American actor Fred Hechinger)
The actor was joined on stage by Connie
Denel was also present
Paul cut a casual figure in a black T-shirt and chinos for his look
The actors appeared cheerful as they talked about the film
Paul looked trendy as he wore a gold hoop earring
The Irish actor who stars in the sequel to Russell Crowe’s 2000 hit film, underwent a grueling workout routine to get fit for the lead role
But the Normal People star said he couldn’t bring himself to quit drinking or smoking as he worked on his ripped physique for the film.
Earlier this year, footage of Paul’s Gladiator training was widely circulated TikTok and showed the actor doing dumbbell shoulder movements for 23 seconds.
In an interview with Capital FMPaul praised his ‘amazing trainer’ who helped him build his physique for the film, as well as a team of nutritionists – who told him when and what to eat.
Messaging fans looking forward to his new build, Paul added: ‘I had the best trainer in the world, a studio and production to support me through it…
‘You have to make the audience believe that this is someone who would survive the intense violence throughout the film.
“And you’re not going to survive that as someone running around in Hackney.”
Meanwhile, the star also told Entertainment tonight that his training with trainer Tim involved a lot of squatting and ‘lifting heavy things’.
During filming, the star also claimed he was told to stop running in the months leading up to filming as his team’s focus was on building muscle.
During a video interview, he said, “The closer we got to filming, I got to run again.”
Paul is known as an active person and has been jogging around London numerous times over the past four years.
Additionally, the star previously revealed that he also enjoys hiking and is an avid boxer.