Paul Mescal Reveals He Has A 'Gut Feeling' He Would Not 'Live A Long Life'

Paul Mescal opened up about having a "gut feeling" that he may not live a long life, expressing his fear of death while holding onto hope he's wrong.

As Lucius Verus in "Gladiator II," the 28-year-old underwent rigorous training, including heavy lifting and squats, while managing his habits of drinking and smoking with the help of trainer Tim Blakeley.

Paul Mescal credited his dedicated team and nutritionists for his impressive physique while portraying a character who could survive fierce battles.

In a recent interview with GQ Magazine, Mescal opened up about an unshakeable "gut feeling" that he may not live long.

The actor, currently at peak physical fitness for his demanding role in "Gladiator II," said, "I've always been convinced that I'm not going to live a long life. People have this response, but in my head, it's never been drastic. It's just like a gut feeling."

He explained: "Maybe it's to do with the fact that I can't visualize myself as an 80-year-old man. I'm also afraid of death. So I think if death was to come for me at 55, I'd be equally afraid of it as I would be at 90. I don't believe anybody who's like, 'I'm ready for it.' I'm like, 'Bullsh-t!'"

However, despite this persistent feeling, Mescal holds on to the hope that he's mistaken.

"It's always in my head," he admitted, per the Daily Mail. "I was like, Going to have a family young. I'm going to not survive a long time. Hopefully, I'm wrong. I think I will be wrong. But that's just the truth around my brain."

In an earlier interview with Capital Radio, Mescal admitted that despite the intense training required for "Gladiator II," he enjoyed the physical challenge.

The Irish actor, who plays Lucius Verus, the grown-up son of Lucilla from the 2000 Oscar-winning film starring Russell Crowe, revealed he didn't want to completely sacrifice his habits while getting in shape for the demanding role.

"I was petrified that they were going to take away everything, like drinking and smoking. Everything fun," he said.

Mescal shared that rather than quitting, he asked his trainer, Tim Blakeley, to help him find a way to balance his habits with his fitness regimen.

"I very earnestly was like, "Look, Tim, I'm going to keep drinking and smoking for a little bit if I can," he recalled. "He very kindly incorporated them, not into the workout routine, but just into my life," he added.

Mescal, who became widely recognized for his portrayal of the reserved Connell Waldron in "Normal People" in 2020, is set to show audiences a very different side in "Gladiator II."

Earlier this year, a TikTok clip of Mescal's workout went viral, capturing him powering through 23 seconds of intense dumbbell shoulder raises.

In a chat with Capital FM, he credited his "great trainer" and a dedicated team of nutritionists who guided him on precisely what and when to eat to build his impressive physique for the role.

For fans admiring his new look, he shared a reminder: "I had the best trainer in the world, a studio, and a production supporting me through it."

Mescal noted that the transformation was crucial to making his character believable.

"You have to make an audience believe that this is someone who would survive intensive violence throughout the film," Mescal said, per the Daily Mail, adding, "And you're not going to survive that as someone who's running around Hackney."

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Mescal shared more about his rigorous workout routine with trainer Blakeley, which included plenty of heavy lifting and squats.

He revealed that, as filming approached, he had to put a pause on his usual running routine so the team could prioritize muscle building for his role in "Gladiator II."

"The closer we got to filming, I was allowed to run again," he mentioned in a video interview.

Known for his active lifestyle, Mescal has often been spotted jogging around London over the last four years.

Beyond running, he enjoys long walks and has a strong passion for boxing, which he previously shared adds to his fitness and mindset.

During an interview with Vanity Fair, Mescal discussed how he intends to keep his personal life private and away from his fans.

The actor noted, however, that he will always feel his fans' love and support. 

He said, "As much as I can, that's going to be my life that is private. That's a difficult thing to achieve. But giving strangers an answer about my life doesn't actually help me. It's like a quick boost of serotonin, being like, 'I've said what I need to say.' And then it's just Twitter fodder."

Mescal, previously in a relationship with singer Phoebe Bridgers, is currently dating another singer, Gracie Abrams.