Normal People star Paul Mescal has admitted he was broke and unable to pay his bills before he got his big break in acting.
The Co Kildare actor is the talk of the town since appearing on the hit series and even caught the attention of the Kardashians last weekend.
But life wasn’t always rosy for the 24-year-old who recalled how he had to borrow money from his parents to pay his rent and bills when starting out.
Paul, who made the move to London just before lockdown, said: “I dream about being financially secure.
“I dream about thinking I don’t have to take every job that comes my way – but I am not in that position at the moment.
“To me, that is the idea of true wealth; the ability to be able to take your time.
“I directly associate wealth with where I am at in my career.”
Speaking to OK! he added: “When I think back to the first play I did, the pay wasn’t great and I was renting in Dublin at the time.
“I didn’t have the money to pay my bills and rent adequately enough, so I had to ask my parents for it, which I found really embarrassing.
“I will constantly be indebted to them; not just financially, but for what they have done for me. I’ll never forget that.”
Paul has become a household name in just two weeks, winning over hearts worldwide as Connell in the coming of age TV adaption of Sally Rooney’s novel.
And a far stretch from his characters unwillingness to showcase his romance and true emotions, Paul admitted he wouldn’t be capable of hiding his own love life.
He said: “If I fell in love with somebody I would be screaming from the rooftops – and my friends would be the first to know about it.
“Connell is very different because he analyses everything to death.”
The TV show has shattered records by racking up 16 million BBC iPlayer requests in its first week alone.
But fans will have to hold out hope for a series two, as producers have said they are working towards finalising Sally Rooney’s Conversations With Friends TV adaption before thinking about anything else.
Irish producer Ed Guiney told the Hollywood Reporter: “We’re not thinking about a second season at the moment.
“Maybe in the future at some point in time.
“What we are doing is the same team are adapting Conversations With Friends, which is Sally’s first book.
“Obviously, [it] is a cousin of Normal People in a way, but it’s also quite different.
“We’re developing that and Lenny’s going to direct the opening episodes of that again, and that’s very exciting and a lovely thing to be working
on during the lockdown.”
