Paul Mescal was 23 years old when he filmed Normal People. Yes, twenty-three. That’s a whole “adult but still gets carded for alcohol” kind of age. He was born on February 2, 1996, and principal photography started in May 2019, which puts him right in that sweet spot of being a full-grown man playing an 18-to-22-year-old. And he absolutely nailed it. I have to pause here and admit: I was 23 once, and I could barely hold a steady job, let alone deliver a monologue about emotional vulnerability.
But hold on—the real kicker? He was actually younger than his character for parts of the show. Connell graduates high school at 18 and goes to Trinity College, so for the first few episodes, Paul was playing a teenager while being five whole years older. Yet, somehow, he made you believe he was that awkward, chain-smoking schoolboy. It’s like he reverse-aged using pure talent.
Wait, Why Does This Matter?
You might be thinking, “Okay, fine, he was 23. So what?” But here’s the thing: age in Hollywood is a weird game. Usually, 30-year-olds play high schoolers (looking at you, every CW show ever). Paul was actually closer to the character’s age than most actors, which adds this raw layer of authenticity. When Connell fumbles through a conversation about consent or intimacy, it feels real because Paul wasn’t some seasoned pro looking back with detached wisdom. He was still discovering big, messy feelings himself. Or so I imagine, while sitting here in my pajamas.
And this brings me to a detail that keeps me up at night: he played Connell right after graduating drama school. We’re talking a fresh-faced actor, barely a year into his professional career, landing one of the most talked-about TV roles of the decade. Imagine finishing your exams and then immediately having to film a bone-chillingly realistic breakup scene with Daisy Edgar-Jones. No pressure, Paul. No pressure at all.
Normal People's Paul Mescal reveals his favourite scene with Daisy
