Saoirse Ronan, the renowned actress, recently revealed her early recognition of Paul Mescal’s talent and his surprising rise to stardom. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Ronan shared that she first noticed Mescal’s exceptional acting abilities in a viral 2018 sausage commercial in Ireland. Little did she know that he would go on to become an Academy Award nominee for his role in the television series Normal People.
Ronan and Mescal are now working together in Garth Davis’ upcoming dystopian drama film called Foe. The film is based on Iain Reid’s novel of the same name and is set 40 years in the future, where an environmental crisis has devastated the couple’s farmland. Mescal’s character is obligated to leave their home to participate in a space program, leaving Ronan’s character in the care of others.
Mescal himself reflected on his humble beginnings, mentioning how he trained in drama school for three years but struggled financially. His agent presented him with the opportunity to star in the sausage commercial, which he gladly accepted in order to pay his rent. Mescal admitted that he sometimes feels a sense of humility when he looks back on his journey, remembering that he was promoting sausages when he first started his career.
In the commercial, Mescal even dared to perform his own stunts. He described the experience of eating multiple sausages on set, admitting that he initially resisted spitting them out into a bucket and opted to eat them instead. However, after consuming 15 sausages in one morning, he quickly learned his lesson.
With Ronan’s endorsement and Mescal’s dedication to his craft, it’s clear that both actors are poised for continued success. As they collaborate on their latest film, Foe, audiences can anticipate witnessing their undeniable talent on the big screen.