Sun Oct 27 22:10:00 UTC 2024: ## “Gladiator” Star Paul Mescal Confesses to Running Away from Denzel Washington

**London** – Paul Mescal, known for his role in the acclaimed film “Aftersun,” revealed his awkward first encounter with the legendary Denzel Washington on “The Graham Norton Show.” During their appearance promoting their upcoming film “Gladiator II,” Mescal confessed to his initial intimidation, leading him to flee from meeting the two-time Oscar winner.

“The first day I was working with Denzel, I was like, ‘I must go up and introduce myself,’ but I stood at the bottom of the stairs for a couple of minutes and said, ‘Not today!'” Mescal shared, adding that he ran to his dressing room, promising himself to be “braver” the next day.

The next day, Mescal found himself facing Washington again. “I waited at the bottom of the stairs, and Denzel walks down, and I was like, ‘Oh God, here we go,'” Mescal admitted. Despite the initial awkwardness, the meeting went well, with Washington shaking his hand and offering some sage advice. “He looked at me for ages and goes, ‘Stop workin’ out, man,'” Mescal recounted with a laugh.

In the interview, Washington praised Mescal’s performance in “Gladiator II,” stating, “This kid delivers. I’m a pretty good actor, trust me. I saw it when Russell Crowe did it, he delivered. This kid delivered.”

The film, set nearly two decades after the original “Gladiator,” follows Lucius (Mescal), who, after the events of the first film, returns to Rome as a gladiator and must fight for survival.

Despite working alongside legends like Washington and director Ridley Scott on his first blockbuster, Mescal maintains he doesn’t view “Gladiator II” as the pinnacle of his career. “I’m ambitious, so there’s no endpoint,” he said. “I have so much more that I want to do.”

Washington, who plays a wealthy and ruthless arms dealer in the film, revealed that while he didn’t have to do as much physical training as Mescal, he did have to learn some new skills. “I had to learn to hold my goblet and lift my skirt when stepping over things,” he shared. “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.”

“Gladiator II” is set to hit theaters on November 22nd.

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