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Hi GQ I'm Paul Mescal and this is me
Hi GQ I'm Paul Mescal and this is me
Hi
GQ
I'm
Paul
Mescal
and
this
is
me
versus
versus
X
the Universe.
versus the Universe.
versus
the
Universe
I uh want
to
to
X
say that I ate
I uh want to say that I ate
I
uh
want
to
say
that
I
ate
about
about
X
like
like
X
5,000 calories a day and
about like 5,000 calories a day and
about
like
5000
calories
a
day
and
trained
for
for
X
like
like
X
4 hours. I worked
with
with
X
trained for like 4 hours. I worked with
trained
for
like
4
hours
I
worked
with
an amazing trainer called Tim Blakeley.
an amazing trainer called Tim Blakeley.
an
amazing
trainer
called
Tim
Blakeley
50 minutes
to
to
X
an hour a day
for
for
X
five, six
50 minutes to an hour a day for five, six
50
minutes
to
an
hour
a
day
for
five
six
days a week and he just understood how
days a week and he just understood how
days
a
week
and
he
just
understood
how
my body worked and uh yeah just lots
of
of
X
my body worked and uh yeah just lots of
my
body
worked
and
uh
yeah
just
lots
of
weights training and protein shakes and
weights training and protein shakes and
weights
training
and
protein
shakes
and
that was pretty much it.
that was pretty much it.
that
was
pretty
much
it
I was
in
in
X
North London. I was on the
I was in North London. I was on the
I
was
in
North
London
I
was
on
the
way
into
into
X
the theatre. I was doing Street Car Named Desire
way into the theatre. I was doing Street Car Named Desire
way
into
the
theatre
I
was
doing
Street
Car
Named
Desire
at
at
X
the time and then I
at the time and then I
at
the
time
and
then
I
remember probably blacking out. I think I
remember probably blacking out. I think I
remember
probably
blacking
out
I
think
I
known I was close
to
to
X
it
but
but
X
there was
known I was close to it but there was
known
I
was
close
to
it
but
there
was
talks
about
about
X
coming back
for
for
X
a camera test
talks about coming back for a camera test
talks
about
coming
back
for
a
camera
test
and then Lara my agent called me.
and then Lara my agent called me.
and
then
Lara
my
agent
called
me
I probably screamed
but
but
X
I think it was a blackout.
I probably screamed but I think it was a blackout.
I
probably
screamed
but
I
think
it
was
a
blackout
I just phased out and went, went
I just phased out and went, went
I
just
phased
out
and
went
went
and did the play
but
but
X
I I think I never
and did the play but I I think I never
and
did
the
play
but
I
I
think
I
never
assumed that it was going
to
to
X
happen.
assumed that it was going to happen.
assumed
that
it
was
going
to
happen
I suppose I thought that
like
like
X
the victory
I suppose I thought that like the victory
I
suppose
I
thought
that
like
the
victory
was in getting close
to
to
X
the role.
was in getting close to the role.
was
in
getting
close
to
the
role
I think
with
with
X
jobs, the minute it comes in it's
I think with jobs, the minute it comes in it's
I
think
with
jobs
the
minute
it
comes
in
it's
the fear starts immediately.
the fear starts immediately.
the
fear
starts
immediately
Like the prospect
of
of
X
having
to
to
X
do it and step
Like the prospect of having to do it and step
Like
the
prospect
of
having
to
do
it
and
step
into
into
X
a film that's already got an
into a film that's already got an
into
a
film
that's
already
got
an
immense, justified, legacy.
immense, justified, legacy.
immense
justified
legacy
Nothing
like
like
X
that
to
to
X
like
like
X
uh
Nothing like that to like uh
Nothing
like
that
to
like
uh
instill a bit
of
of
X
fear I think.
instill a bit of fear I think.
instill
a
bit
of
fear
I
think
Fear, fear is the thing that motivates me yeah.
Fear, fear is the thing that motivates me yeah.
Fear
fear
is
the
thing
that
motivates
me
yeah
I remember watching. I would have
I remember watching. I would have
I
remember
watching
I
would
have
been
about
about
X
like
like
X
14 or 15, so
around
around
X
2010.
been about like 14 or 15, so around 2010.
been
about
like
14
or
15
so
around
2010
It's one
of
of
X
my dad's favourite films
It's one of my dad's favourite films
It's
one
of
my
dad's
favourite
films
so he lost his mind when he found out I
so he lost his mind when he found out I
so
he
lost
his
mind
when
he
found
out
I
was doing it. I I think one
of
of
X
the great
was doing it. I I think one of the great
was
doing
it
I
I
think
one
of
the
great
strengths
of
of
X
that film is how well it
strengths of that film is how well it
strengths
of
that
film
is
how
well
it
holds
up
up
X
,
like
like
X
we actually me and my
holds up, like we actually me and my
holds
up
like
we
actually
me
and
my
friends were
down
down
X
in
in
X
my house we decided
friends were down in my house we decided
friends
were
down
in
my
house
we
decided
to
to
X
watch it again which was kind
of
of
X
a
to watch it again which was kind of a
to
watch
it
again
which
was
kind
of
a
painful experience
for
for
X
me
but
but
X
uh they
painful experience for me but uh they
painful
experience
for
me
but
uh
they
were just doing their homework I suppose.
were just doing their homework I suppose.
were
just
doing
their
homework
I
suppose
I don't think I could do a horror,
I don't think I could do a horror,
I
don't
think
I
could
do
a
horror
I'm not the target audience
for
for
X
a horror film.
I'm not the target audience for a horror film.
I'm
not
the
target
audience
for
a
horror
film
I would love
to
to
X
do a comedy
I would love to do a comedy
I
would
love
to
do
a
comedy
at
at
X
some point
but
but
X
the prospect
of
of
X
doing
at some point but the prospect of doing
at
some
point
but
the
prospect
of
doing
that is also frightening.
that is also frightening.
that
is
also
frightening
There's this discussion that actors have, it's
like
like
X
There's this discussion that actors have, it's like
There's
this
discussion
that
actors
have
it's
like
there's a thing that
like
like
X
you're drawn
there's a thing that like you're drawn
there's
a
thing
that
like
you're
drawn
to
to
X
as
as
X
an artist. I'm definitely drawn
to
to
X
drama.
to as an artist. I'm definitely drawn to drama.
to
as
an
artist
I'm
definitely
drawn
to
drama
So I'm going
to
to
X
stick at that
but
but
X
So I'm going to stick at that but
So
I'm
going
to
stick
at
that
but
like
like
X
drama's so broad that
like
like
X
there's
like drama's so broad that like there's
like
drama's
so
broad
that
like
there's
so many different colours
within
within
X
it.
so many different colours within it.
so
many
different
colours
within
it
No romcoms?
No romcoms?
No
romcoms
If I say romcom I'll just get
If I say romcom I'll just get
If
I
say
romcom
I'll
just
get
into
into
X
trouble so yeah.
into trouble so yeah.
into
trouble
so
yeah
Physically there was a couple
of
of
X
Physically there was a couple of
Physically
there
was
a
couple
of
scenes
in
in
X
Gladiator where we were
scenes in Gladiator where we were
scenes
in
Gladiator
where
we
were
filming in
about
about
X
42° C rolling
around
around
X
in
filming in about 42° C rolling around in
filming
in
about
42°
C
rolling
around
in
leather armor. Ridley calling the shots.
leather armor. Ridley calling the shots.
leather
armor
Ridley
calling
the
shots
Pretty intense. Very, very hot and
like
like
X
I'm
Pretty intense. Very, very hot and like I'm
Pretty
intense
Very
very
hot
and
like
I'm
Irish I don't have a predisposition
to
to
X
Irish I don't have a predisposition to
Irish
I
don't
have
a
predisposition
to
be being good in the Sun. So that was tough.
be being good in the Sun. So that was tough.
be
being
good
in
the
Sun
So
that
was
tough
There's a scene
in
in
X
Normal People
in
in
X
There's a scene in Normal People in
There's
a
scene
in
Normal
People
in
episode 10
with
with
X
the therapist was pretty
episode 10 with the therapist was pretty
episode
10
with
the
therapist
was
pretty
tough to film. There's always one or two
tough to film. There's always one or two
tough
to
film
There's
always
one
or
two
scenes
in
in
X
each film that
like
like
X
you're
scenes in each film that like you're
scenes
in
each
film
that
like
you're
always looking
at
at
X
on
on
X
the call sheet
always looking at on the call sheet
always
looking
at
on
the
call
sheet
about
about
X
where that is and kind
of
of
X
hoping
about where that is and kind of hoping
about
where
that
is
and
kind
of
hoping
that it comes two or three weeks
down
down
X
the line
that it comes two or three weeks down the line
that
it
comes
two
or
three
weeks
down
the
line
but
but
X
ultimately that's what you want
but ultimately that's what you want
but
ultimately
that's
what
you
want
as
as
X
an actor. You want a little bit
of
of
X
as an actor. You want a little bit of
as
an
actor
You
want
a
little
bit
of
fear when it comes
to
to
X
scenes because it
fear when it comes to scenes because it
fear
when
it
comes
to
scenes
because
it
means that the project matters I think.
means that the project matters I think.
means
that
the
project
matters
I
think
Blind fear and panic.
Blind fear and panic.
Blind
fear
and
panic
Music's a big part
of
of
X
it.
Music's a big part of it.
Music's
a
big
part
of
it
I'll listen
to
to
X
playlists and I know I kind
of
of
X
I'll listen to playlists and I know I kind of
I'll
listen
to
playlists
and
I
know
I
kind
of
joke
about
about
X
blind fear and panic
but
but
X
it,
joke about blind fear and panic but it,
joke
about
blind
fear
and
panic
but
it
at the moment, it seems
to
to
X
motivate me.
at the moment, it seems to motivate me.
at
the
moment
it
seems
to
motivate
me
When it comes
to
to
X
some
of
of
X
those things
When it comes to some of those things
When
it
comes
to
some
of
those
things
because if you're not scared
of
of
X
it then
because if you're not scared of it then
because
if
you're
not
scared
of
it
then
it means that I I don't think you
it means that I I don't think you
it
means
that
I
I
don't
think
you
understand it. Um so yeah, blind fear and panic.
understand it. Um so yeah, blind fear and panic.
understand
it
Um
so
yeah
blind
fear
and
panic
There's so many uh maybe Dog Day Afternoon.
There's so many uh maybe Dog Day Afternoon.
There's
so
many
uh
maybe
Dog
Day
Afternoon
I'd
like
like
X
to
to
X
be
in
in
X
that
with
with
X
uh
I'd like to be in that with uh
I'd
like
to
be
in
that
with
uh
Pacino would be pretty amazing think or
Pacino would be pretty amazing think or
Pacino
would
be
pretty
amazing
think
or
any Cassavetes film which uh Gena Rowlands
any Cassavetes film which uh Gena Rowlands
any
Cassavetes
film
which
uh
Gena
Rowlands
any
of
of
X
those.
any of those.
any
of
those
The Rocky Road
to
to
X
Dublin
by
by
X
Lankum.
The Rocky Road to Dublin by Lankum.
The
Rocky
Road
to
Dublin
by
Lankum
They have
like
like
X
a live version
of
of
X
that
They have like a live version of that
They
have
like
a
live
version
of
that
that just gets the blood
up
up
X
and is uh
that just gets the blood up and is uh
that
just
gets
the
blood
up
and
is
uh
really
like
like
X
it's, it's great
to
to
X
listen
to
to
X
yeah.
really like it's, it's great to listen to yeah.
really
like
it's
it's
great
to
listen
to
yeah
I think
like
like
X
a good solid
like
like
X
3/4
I think like a good solid like 3/4
I
think
like
a
good
solid
like
3/4
length...
down
down
X
to
to
X
the...I think it's well
length...down to the...I think it's well
lengthdown
to
theI
think
it's
well
documented my uh preference
in
in
X
uh
in
in
X
documented my uh preference in uh in
documented
my
uh
preference
in
uh
in
seam
of
of
X
shorts. The shorter the better
seam of shorts. The shorter the better
seam
of
shorts
The
shorter
the
better
within
within
X
reason. It's weird because it
within reason. It's weird because it
within
reason
It's
weird
because
it
always started out
as
as
X
something that
always started out as something that
always
started
out
as
something
that
like
like
X
they're just Gaelic football
like they're just Gaelic football
like
they're
just
Gaelic
football
shorts practical and I think they look
shorts practical and I think they look
shorts
practical
and
I
think
they
look
better
on
on
X
men I think.
better on men I think.
better
on
men
I
think
London's got great
like
like
X
roasts.
London's got great like roasts.
London's
got
great
like
roasts
I think you can't really go wrong
I think you can't really go wrong
I
think
you
can't
really
go
wrong
especially in the winter. Like go
to
to
X
the pub.
especially in the winter. Like go to the pub.
especially
in
the
winter
Like
go
to
the
pub
Have a nice roast. North London somewhere.
Have a nice roast. North London somewhere.
Have
a
nice
roast
North
London
somewhere
I'd love
to
to
X
work
with
with
X
Sandra Hüller.
I'd love to work with Sandra Hüller.
I'd
love
to
work
with
Sandra
Hüller
I'd would love
to
to
X
work
with
with
X
I'd would love to work with
I'd
would
love
to
work
with
Michelle Williams. I would love
to
to
X
work
Michelle Williams. I would love to work
Michelle
Williams
I
would
love
to
work
with
with
X
Scorcese. So if you're watching please.
with Scorcese. So if you're watching please.
with
Scorcese
So
if
you're
watching
please
please um if I can get one
of
of
X
those I
please um if I can get one of those I
please
um
if
I
can
get
one
of
those
I
I'll, I'll die a very very happy man I think.
I'll, I'll die a very very happy man I think.
I'll
I'll
die
a
very
very
happy
man
I
think
It's always a dangerous thing
It's always a dangerous thing
It's
always
a
dangerous
thing
because I think it gives the indication
because I think it gives the indication
because
I
think
it
gives
the
indication
that I have any clue what's going
on
on
X
.
that I have any clue what's going on.
that
I
have
any
clue
what's
going
on
Always take advice
with
with
X
a pinch
of
of
X
salt
Always take advice with a pinch of salt
Always
take
advice
with
a
pinch
of
salt
from
from
X
anybody and especially be wary if
from anybody and especially be wary if
from
anybody
and
especially
be
wary
if
somebody looks
like
like
X
or pretends that
somebody looks like or pretends that
somebody
looks
like
or
pretends
that
they've got it all sussed out
but
but
X
I
they've got it all sussed out but I
they've
got
it
all
sussed
out
but
I
always go back
to
to
X
, go
to
to
X
the theatre try
always go back to, go to the theatre try
always
go
back
to
go
to
the
theatre
try
and be
on
on
X
stage
as
as
X
much
as
as
X
you can. Read plays.
and be on stage as much as you can. Read plays.
and
be
on
stage
as
much
as
you
can
Read
plays
Go
to
to
X
like
like
X
your independent theatres
Go to like your independent theatres
Go
to
like
your
independent
theatres
just try and get
off
off
X
the beaten track.
just try and get off the beaten track.
just
try
and
get
off
the
beaten
track
Like follow your curiosity and
Like follow your curiosity and
Like
follow
your
curiosity
and
and develop a taste. I think and also
and develop a taste. I think and also
and
develop
a
taste
I
think
and
also
don't listen
to
to
X
advice religiously
like
like
X
don't listen to advice religiously like
don't
listen
to
advice
religiously
like
figure it out yourself I think.
figure it out yourself I think.
figure
it
out
yourself
I
think
Don't take my advice is my advice.
Don't take my advice is my advice.
Don't
take
my
advice
is
my
advice
My Roman Empire recently was when
My Roman Empire recently was when
My
Roman
Empire
recently
was
when
I was doing a job where I wasn't allowed
I was doing a job where I wasn't allowed
I
was
doing
a
job
where
I
wasn't
allowed
to
to
X
eat a lot
of
of
X
food. It was chicken
to eat a lot of food. It was chicken
to
eat
a
lot
of
food
It
was
chicken
wings was my Roman Empire.
wings was my Roman Empire.
wings
was
my
Roman
Empire
Probably
like
like
X
a pair
of
of
X
jeans and a
Probably like a pair of jeans and a
Probably
like
a