Paul Mescal tried his best not to gush over Denzel Washington on the set of Gladiator II.

Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington in Gladiator 2

Paul Mescal tried hard not to express his admiration too much upon meeting Denzel Washington for fear that he might ruin his scenes with the veteran star. The Irish actor stars in the upcoming sequel to Ridley Scott’s Gladiator as Lucius, and Washington will be portraying Macrinus.

paul mescal gladiator 2-3Credits: Paul Mescal in Gladiator II / Paramount Pictures

It’s plain to see that the Normal People star has finally achieved global stardom, but despite his immense popularity, he does not shy away from gushing over his idols and professing his love for their works. However, Mescal had to restrain himself while filming Gladiator II, at least until production had wrapped up.

Paul Mescal Made Sure Not to Fanboy Too Much While Working With Denzel Washington

Not everyone gets the opportunity to work alongside Denzel Washington, and when one gets lucky enough to bag a role in the same project, one should not mess it up. This was Paul Mescal’s thoughts before diving into his scenes with the award-winning actor.

He revealed in his interview via The Movie Podcast that he kept his fanboy moments to himself so as not to make his costar feel uncomfortable on set. He treated Washington like a colleague, which is important in a collaborative project. “You can’t let your admiration for another actor get in the way of them being able to do their work,” he said.

paul-mescal-gladiator-2Credits: Paul Mescal in Gladiator II / Paramount Pictures

Furthermore, the actor believes it is not a good practice to display extreme regard for a costar when they are about to work together on scenes because it will only foster an awkward atmosphere.

I can’t imagine how frustrating it would be if you’re about to go into a scene with somebody and they start going, like, ‘Oh my God, you’re the best actor who’s ever…’ I think it’s an impossible environment to be creative.

Mescal saved all his gushing for Washington until they had completely finished filming. He finally told him what he wanted to say about his works, and this was something the actor would take away from his experience in Gladiator II and apply to his future projects.

Denzel Washington on Working With Paul Mescal

denzel washington gladiator 2Credits: Denzel Washington in Gladiator II / Paramount Pictures

Perhaps Mescal will jump for joy when he hears what Washington says about working with him. In an interview with Indulge Magazine, the Man on Fire star believes the younger lad has a bright future ahead and sees him as a “consummate professional” who keeps his feet on the ground.

“The sky is the limit for him,” Washington stated. He confessed to feeling like a “proud father” after watching Mescal’s performance, and he looks forward to seeing more projects from him in the future. It is quite evident that they bonded over filming Gladiator II.

In the same conversation, the 69-year-old actor said that the upcoming movie is his biggest project to date. “It was all a spectacle,” he teased fans.

Gladiator II hits theatres on November 22, 2024.