Paul Mescal’s career has gone from strength to strength, with his most recent triumph being his BAFTA nomination for new film Aftersun. But while receiving such a prestigious honour should be an exciting occasion, for Paul’s mother it was anything but, after the actor and his sister, musician, Nell decided to play a prank on their unsuspecting mam, Dearbhla.
Stopping by the Late Late Show to support Nell as she made a surprise musical appearance, proud parents Paul and Dearbhla were joined by host Ryan Tubridy in the audience, where mammy Mescal revealed her children’s antics after Paul’s nomination.
Telling Ryan, how her kids convinced her Paul had missed out on the award nomination. She confessed: “I have to tell a lil’ secret, I was out shopping because I decided I can’t do this. I can’t do the waiting, being on YouTube and waiting for someone to draw a name out. He’s with all these very incredibly talented people.”
But after heading to the shops to take her mind off the awards, Dearbhla received a call from Nell, implying it was bad news.
As Dearbhla explained: “This lady right here [Nell] says, ‘ring me quickly, it’s not good news and we’re very sad.’ I was in a shop buying a top, I put the card in, did all that. The next thing on the family WhatsApp, it’s the five of us, because Donnacha’s [her other son] in New York”
“Donnacha’s shirtless sitting in his bed, we’re all waiting for the news. Waiting to see a sad face Paul. Of course it was all a big joke. I’m outside the shop in Manor Mills, going…well I won’t say what I said!”
With Ryan replying: “That is a cruel Irish joke against the mammy of all people.”
But once they got the actually news, the day was much better, with Paul’s father explaining: “It was a pretty good day in the office really.”
Paul Mescal nabbed a BAFTA nomination in the Best Actor category for Aftersun.
The film saw Paul ditch his Kildare accent for a Scottish twang as he plays Calum, a doting father to his young daughter, Sophie.
The film is told from an adult Sophie’s perspective as she reminisces about a holiday she took with her father 20 years ago.
