Paul Mescal was spotted in New York City on Monday as he grabbed lunch on the go with a friend.

The actor, 28, enjoyed lunch from Sweetgreen in the Big Apple dressed in a black hoodie over a Carhartt jacket and dark blue jeans. 

The Irish star added a pair of black Adidas gazelles and black sunglᴀsses to his look as he clutched on to his takeaway lunch. 

The Gladiator star was strolling along with a mystery woman who was bundled up against the cold in a long wool coat and baggy jeans. 

Paul’s low-key look comes after he revealed he has been feeling the pressure following the release of his latest film Gladiator II. 

Gladiator II follows Lucius Verus (Paul), the former heir to the Roman Empire who is forced into slavery and eventually pushed to fight in the Colosseum in an effort to restore glory.

Paul Mescal was spotted trying to fly under the radar in New York City on Monday as he grabbed lunch on the go with a friend

The actor, 28, looked serious as he enjoyed lunch from Sweetgreen in the Big Apple dressed in a black hoodie over a Carhartt jacket and dark blue jeans

Paul’s low-key look comes after he revealed he has been feeling the pressure following the release of his latest film Gladiator II (pictured with director Ridley Scott, November 13, 2024)

In a new interview with Variety, Paul, 28, spoke about the film, his love of short shorts and hinted about working with his Normal People co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones.

He said: ‘I do feel the pressure, and I do feel the desire for this to make money. The box office needs a sH๏τ in the arm, and if films like Gladiator II aren’t doing it, it would be concerning. So I do feel a responsibility.

Early review from critics have called Gladiator II the ‘best movie of the year’ and a ‘true epic’ as they hailed Paul and Denzel Washington’s performances.

The film was released in the UK on Friday, November 15.

Paul told how there was a scene towards the end of the film where a weary Lucius mounts a horse in H๏τ pursuit of Macrinus.

The actor was keen to do his best for the action-packed moment and the other stunts so ‘trained for f***ing months’ – before director Ridley Scott changed his mind about the scene.

Paul told the publication: ‘Two weeks before the scene, Ridley says, ‘You’re not f***ing doing it,’ and I was like, ‘What the f**k?,’ and we had this argument.’

Ridley had decided to cut the scene due to some equine advice he had received on another movie

Gladiator II follows Lucius Verus (Paul), the former heir to the Roman Empire who is forced into slavery and eventually pushed to fight in the Colosseum in an effort to restore glory

Paul underwent a grueling workout routine to get fit for the leading role but the Normal People star said he couldn’t bring himself to give up drinking or smoking while working on his ripped physique for the flick

Read More Paul Mescal, 28, reveals he’s ‘convinced I’m not going to live a long life’

Paul added of the altercation: ‘I was pestering him constantly. And then the day before, he goes, ‘OK, you can do the stunt, but if you come off, it’s two Bentleys.’

He eventually pulled the move off in just a couple of takes.

The star fought against pressure to kick two of his worst vices. 

Paul underwent a grueling workout routine to get fit for the leading role but the Normal People star said he couldn’t bring himself to give up drinking or smoking while working on his ripped physique for the flick.

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

Paul went on to say he asked his fitness trainer Tim Blakeley to help him work drinking and smoking into his rigorous training regime.

‘I very earnestly was like, “Look, Tim, I’m going to keep drinking and smoking for a little bit if I can,”‘ Paul recalled.

‘He very kindly incorporated them, not into the workout routine, but just into my life.’