Paul Mescal has been seen relaxing in Sydney amid backlash to his viral exchange with Saoirse Ronan on The Graham Norton Show.
The Gladiator II star is in Australia enjoying some time off after walking the red carpet for Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel in Darling Harbor on October 30.
The Irish actor, 28, was seen smoking a cigarette on Thursday afternoon and enjoying the views from the balcony of his hotel room, overlooking Sydney Harbour.
Embracing the warm sun, Mescal was photographed shirtless during the session on the balcony, where he was joined by two unidentified women and a tattooed man.
At the time Mescal was photographed, he was blissfully unaware that in the next 24 hours he would find himself at the center of a global media storm, as a pre-recorded episode of the Graham Norton Show aired in the UK.
The Normal People star appeared to be in good spirits as she took a few drags on a cigarette and admired the picturesque view of the harbor with her friends.
Mescal’s Gladiator II co-star Saoirse, 30, set social media alight during Friday’s appearance on the show when she made a comment about gender-based violence while sitting down. alongside an otherwise all-male panel of PaulDenzel Washington and Eddie Redmayne.
In the brief exchange, Saoirse silenced the all-male panel with her only now-viral response to Mescal.
Paul Mescal has been seen in Sydney partying with some female company. The Gladiator II star, 28, is in Australia promoting the new ancient Rome-themed film. in the photo
And over the weekend, the Irish actor was seen enjoying the view while staying at a hotel on Sydney Harbour.
During the interview with Graham Norton, Eddie, 42, explained that during his training for The Day of the Jackal, an upcoming Peacock miniseries, he received instructions on how to use a phone to retaliate in the event of an attack.
Then Paul joked: ‘Who’s really going to think about that? “If someone really attacked me, I’m not going to make a phone call.”
Graham mimed holding a phone to defend himself against an attacker and said, “Can you wait a second?” to which Eddie said, “That’s a very good point.”
After speaking in the chat, Saoirse finally found a moment to speak and declared, “That’s what girls have to think about all the time.”
The brutally honest comment prompted a moment of silence from the panel.
‘Am I right, ladies?’ He then asked the crowd, drawing huge applause from the studio audience.
Saoirse lit up social media when she made a joke about self-defense while sitting next to actor, Denzel Washington and Eddie Redmayne.
Speaking in his first interview since then, Paul addressed his appearance on the BBC show while walking the red carpet at the Australian premiere of Gladiator II in Sydney.
Asked about 9honey about a comment Denzel made on The Graham Norton Show, saying that Paul had “delivered” with his performance in the new film.
Paul responded: “I feel totally comfortable saying this, but I got really emotional when he (Denzel) said that.”
He continued, “Because they have both been so generous with their talents, his performance in the film is simply extraordinary, but he has been completely paternal and non-condescending on this press tour.”
“And to receive that from someone who has such a fundamental talent is an incredibly generous and kind thing.”
He was not asked directly about the awkward interaction with Saorise, who defended her “dear friend” on Virgin Radio UK.
“As Paul is one of my dear friends, I’ve had conversations like this with him before and he completely understands,” Saoirse said.
“But I think the fact that there was a moment like that that happened on a show like Graham Norton, which is something that the whole country channels and watches, and even abroad, it’s something that people tune in to, it seems to have had a accessibility that seems to have gained a lot of ground, which I think is surprising.
Paul was shirtless, revealing his muscular physique as he entertained his guests, enjoying a few laughs with his mates.
Paul Mescal has broken his silence after that awkward moment with Saoirse Ronan during an argument on The Graham Norton Show (pictured in Sydney)
While Paul is living life in Australia, his rumored girlfriend Gracie Abrams is on tour with Taylor Swift, supporting her on the final leg of the American Eras tour.
Gracie, 25, opened for Taylor, 34, in New Orleans a few nights ago and will continue in this role for the next few months.
Gracie, whose father is Hollywood director JJ Abrams, was first seen with Paul in June at a London restaurant.
Two weeks ago, the loved-up couple was seen chatting outside a restaurant on a date night in New York City while smoking cigarettes.
Paul is currently busy promoting the upcoming sequel to Russell Crowe’s 2000 hit film, Gladiator, in which he takes on the lead role.
Speaking about filming the epic while in Australia, Paul admitted he couldn’t stop drinking or smoking while working on his ripped physique for the role.
‘I was petrified that they were going to take everything away from me, like drinking and smoking. All fun,” he told The Project earlier this year.
The Normal People star appeared to be in good spirits as she took a few drags on a cigarette and admired the picturesque view of the harbor with her friends.
Paul confessed that he asked his fitness trainer Tim Blakeley to help him incorporate alcohol and tobacco consumption into his rigorous training regimen.
“I thought very seriously, ‘Look, Tim, I’m going to keep drinking and smoking a little bit if I can.’
“He very kindly incorporated them, not into the exercise routine, but simply into my life.”
Paul first rose to fame opposite Daisy Edgar Jones in an adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel Normal People and has since starred in a string of high-profile releases.
He has racked up credits on Aftersun, Foe and All of Us Strangers, and featured GQ Magazine that although he misses his anonymity, he would not change his career in Hollywood for anything.
“I miss the anonymity, but I don’t miss a life before having the opportunities that come with making movies,” he shared.
‘I love this job more than I miss the anonymity, because I’m not naïve in assuming that you can really have one without the other, and grieving is less useful.
“I make amazing friends through this job and I work with people like Ridley Scott, so it’s all good,” the actor said.