Paul Mescal shocks contestants with a surprise appearance on Sky Art’s hit competition series Portrait Artist of the Year tonight.
The Kildare born star, 24, who earned a new heartthrob acclaim for his role as Connell in the screen adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People was unveiled on the show this week as a celebrity sitter.
And despite his shy demeanor, the contestants were star struck and delighted as the breakthrough star walked into the room wearing his iconic neck chain.
Gobsmacked, one of the painters admitted: “Oh my god, my friends are going to be so jealous!”
The Sky Arts show pits amateur and professional artists against each other as they hope to wow the judges with their skills.
Quizzed by host Stephen Mangan on whether his meteoric rise to fame has changed his life, the Maynooth man said: “Yeah a little bit but I think everything will be clearer when we go back to normal. In the middle of the storm now.”
He also admitted he is a ‘fidgety person’ when he is nervous as he sat and tried to get the right pose for his painting.
Throughout the series, a total of 24 actors, musicians, writers and TV personalities will pose for portraits over the course of the series.
They include actor James Nesbitt, broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald, First Dates star Fred Sirieix, TV presenter Melanie Sykes, musician Ray BLK, TV presenter Katie Piper, TV judge Robert Rinder and actress Jane Horrocks.
The aspiring artists compete in each heat, and go on to paint Booker-prize winning author Bernardine Evaristo in the semi-final.
The winner receives a £10,000 (€11,189) commission to paint the director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, Carlos Acosta, with the portrait to be exhibited at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
Paul Mescal’s episode of Portrait Artist of the Year airs tonight at 8PM on Sky Arts and NOW TV.
