In Normal People, Paul Mescal’s character Connell woos Marianne with deep conversations… and steamy sex sessions.
But in real-life, the Irish heartthrob charmed girlfriend Phoebe Bridgers with tequila slammers, I can reveal.
The 24-year-old fell for Los Angeles-based musician Phoebe in May, when the pair did a vodcast together for her Instagram Live. How very modern!
Paul told her, “I think it’s well documented that I love your music”, to which Phoebe replied: “Well, that makes me blush.” Ta-wit, ta-wooo…
I’m told that when the chat was over, Paul and Phoebe – who turns 26 tomorrow – stayed on Zoom drinking together.
But it was their taste for tequila slammers when Paul invited Phoebe to visit him in Kinsale, Co Cork, that cemented the relationship.
A source tells me: “Paul invited pals and they played wild drinking games.
“They’re both smitten. His membership on the celeb dating site Raya is a smokescreen to cover up that they’re secretly an item.”
Last week, I revealed Paul has been inundated by calls from Hollywood – so he could be closer to Phoebe sooner than he thinks.
Phoebe, who has posed for Playboy, told online magazine Vulture in June how she and Paul “became like internet homies”.
She adds: “Now he’s my internet crush. Normal People definitely destroyed me, but it has been nice.
“Talking to Paul made it more palatable for me to not be super depressed after watching it, because it’s so sad and then he’s like a happy, normal dude.” Fetch the salt!
