Normal People's Paul Mescal Says He's Totally Different From Connell: 'I’m Definitely Not Aloof'

Paul Mescal is opening up about how he’s noticing some fans think he’s just like his character on Normal People, Connell.

However, he isn’t.

Speaking on the Grand Mam podcast, Paul, 24, shared how he felt about all the attention he’s getting from fans of the show.

“To be honest, it’s uncomfortable,” he says. “I’m not trying to be full of faux humility but it’s a weird thing when people are very quickly attracted to a character you play.”

He went on, “I think that’s the thing I’m focusing on. I’m not Connell, I’m totally different to him. I think maybe what’s sexy about Connell is he’s kind of classic back-footed, aloof, smart. I’m definitely not back-footed or aloof.”

Paul adds that some of the DMs he’s getting were fun at the start, but some turned a little creepy for him.

“It was kind of fun at the start – ‘Oh, this is mad, people think that Connell’s sexy’ – and then a weird thing has kind of crept in where, when people DM, there’s this feeling that maybe there’s an anticipation that I’m him,” he shared. “This is for the record – if anybody ever dates me, I am not Connell, and nor do I want to be him.”

Normal People is streaming now on Hulu.

Click here to find out how Paul‘s family has reacted to the sex scenes in the show.