You’d think spending hours in rehearsals and on stage with one of Hollywood’s current heartthrobs would clue you in—but for Patsy Ferran, it took actual mobs of swooning fans to realise she was working alongside Paul Mescal, star of Normal People and Gladiator II.
While Mescal’s fame skyrocketed thanks to his intense screen presence and ripped Roman physique, Ferran was completely unaware of just how famous he really was—until the crowds at the theatre started acting like he was a rockstar.
“I Was Basically Living Under a Rock”
In a recent interview with You Magazine, Ferran, 35, admitted that she didn’t quite grasp Mescal’s fame while they were starring together in A Streetcar Named Desire at London’s Almeida Theatre.
“I knew of him, obviously,” she said.
“But I was basically living under a rock when Normal People came out, so I hadn’t seen it.”
It wasn’t until she saw the line of eager fans waiting outside the stage door that she realised just how big a deal her co-star was.
Watching Aftersun Left Her Starstruck Mid-Performance
Eventually, Ferran did what many others had already done—she watched Mescal’s performance in Aftersun, the film that earned him an Oscar nomination.
“I told him how much I enjoyed it,” she recalled. “And he just went, ‘Thanks very much.’”
But the real fan-girl moment came later, during one of their evening stage performances.
“I looked at him from across the stage and thought, ‘Oh my God!’ I got really fan-girly and flustered,” she laughed.
Critics Say She Stole the Show
Despite sharing the stage with someone who had fans screaming his name, critics were quick to praise Ferran, with many claiming she outshone her more well-known co-star.
Her powerful performance sparked comparisons to legends like Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, and Glenda Jackson.
Clearly, fame doesn’t always dictate who leaves the biggest impression.
From Stage to Screen With George Clooney
Now, Ferran is headed for more screen time.
Her latest film, Hot Milk, co-starring Fiona Shaw, is set for release this Friday.
And come December, she’ll be sharing the screen with none other than George Clooney in the ensemble dramedy Jay Kelly.
But working with Clooney came with its own surreal moment for the actress.
Meeting George Clooney Felt Like a “Glitch in Reality”
Unlike her clueless start with Mescal, Ferran was very aware of Clooney’s star power from the get-go.
“It was just a crazy experience,” she said.
“You’ve been watching these people your whole life and when they walk into your own reality, it’s like a glitch.
You’re not supposed to be real!”
Despite her success, Ferran still holds on to that awe and admiration for the stars she works with—and honestly, who wouldn’t get flustered in front of George Clooney?