Paul Mescalwas intimidated to meetDenzel Washingtonfor the first time so he took his cold feet and fled.
BBC
Mescal said he tried to hype himself up to meet the two-time Oscar winner.
The two actors ultimately crossed paths the next day.
Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington on ‘The Graham Norton Show’.BBC
“And Denzel walks down, and it was like, ‘Oh, God, here we go.’
And he shook my hand, and it just felt extraordinary.”
Washington then teased Mescal, offering him some sage advice.
Paul Mescal in ‘Gladiator II’.Paramount Pictures
Elsewhere in the interview, Washington sang the praises of his young costar.
“Let me say this: This kid delivers,” he said of Mescal.
“I’m a pretty good actor.
I’m serious, trust me.
I saw it when Russell [Crowe, star ofGladiator] did it he delivered.
This kid delivered.”
“There’s never ‘making it.’
I have so much more that I want to do.
Paramount Pictures
Washington alsoteased his characterin the sword-and-sandals epic to EW.
“He really didn’t have to do any heavy lifting.
The boys are down there fighting, being chased by rhinos.
I’m just sitting up in this tent, twirling my goblet.That’sfun.”
“I had to learn to walk around with a dress on.
I had to learn how to walk with sandals on.
I tripped a couple of times in the beginning, but I became one with my peers.”
Want more movie news?
Gladiator IIhits theaters Nov. 22.
