Paul Mescal's gladiator transformation defies 'normal' roles
He starred in "Normal People" and "Aftersun," and now he will appear in the second instalment of "Gladiator." To become a worthy successor to Russell Crowe, Mescal had to gain a lot of muscle mass, and he's eager to talk about it.
In the aforementioned productions, the characters played by Paul Mescal are far from muscular. However, the actor took on a unique challenge to become Lucius, the son of the legendary Maximus from the first film of "Gladiator." When no one even thought that a sequel to this story would ever be made, Ridley Scott presented a second film—a grand, brutal spectacle with performances meant to leave the audience in awe. But first, Mescal had to lift some heavy weights.
Paul Mescal "transformed" himself for his role in "Gladiator 2"
The actor admitted that extensive gym preparations preceded the on-set work. "You start feeling like your body can inflict damage," he commented in an interview with "The Sun." "I ate a lot of chicken and lifted heavy things. I was working with a trainer who circled me like a shark and said 'There is a canvas to work with,'" Mescal said.
The actor joked half-seriously that he didn't fully stick to the strict plan devised by his trainer, Tim Blakeley, and the nutritionists hired by the production. He confessed that the plan required completely quitting smoking and drinking alcohol to enhance his physique more. Here, he drew the line. "I did everything he asked but I like to drink, and I like to smoke so I drew a line in the sand where those were concerned," the actor admitted.
A few months ago, Mescal revealed in an interview with "Vanity Fair" that he wasn't concerned about undergoing such a body transformation to become—as he noted—a beauty symbol. "I just wanted to be big and strong and look like somebody who can cause a bit of damage," he admitted.
"I think also, sometimes, one could, in striving for that perfect look, end up looking more like an underwear model than a warrior," he added. "Muscles start to grow, and that can be deemed aesthetic in certain capacities, but there is something about feeling strong in your body that elicits just a different feeling. You carry yourself differently. It has an impact on you psychologically in a way that is useful for the film," the actor stated.
The effects of the training will be visible in American cinemas on 15 November. The film, as assured by the first viewers, is a grand, brutal spectacle. Curious?
