Paul Mescal was scared of his first meeting with Denzel Washington in ‘Gladiator II’

It’s fair to say Gladiator II It was a big step for star Paul Mescal. The actor leads an all-star cast and in a recent show The Graham Norton ShowHe explained how frightening he found the experience. She was so scared, in fact, that she dreaded her first opportunity to meet the two-time Oscar winner.

“The first day I worked with Denzel, he was in the box and I was running around fighting some monkeys or something,” Mescal said. explained. “At the end of the day I thought, ‘I should go up and introduce myself to Denzel.’”

Mescal went on to say that he was trying to get into the right position for the match.

“I stopped at the bottom of the steps and stood there for a few minutes and said, ‘Not today,'” he continued. “So I freed myself and ran to my dressing room and said, ‘Tomorrow I will be a brave boy.'”

Mescal was right, and the next day the two got the chance to actually meet: “The second day I waited under the stairs and said, ‘I just have to stay there.’ Denzel comes down and says, ‘Oh my God, here we go.’ “He shook my hand and it was an incredible feeling.”

Mescal added that Washington stared at him for what seemed like ages and then simply said: “Stop working, man.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Washington took time to praise her young co-star. “Let me tell you this: This kid is succeeding,” he said. “I’m a pretty good actor. I’m serious, trust me. Russell (Crowe, gladiator) did – delivered. “This child surrendered.”

Gladiator II In theaters November 22, 2024.