Paul Mescal and Joe Alwyn have a lot in common! In addition to being Hollywood heartthrobs, both have starred in adaptations of Sally Rooney’s books. While Mescal became a breakout star playing Connell in the series adaptation of Normal People, Alwyn brought Nick Conway to life in the series adaptation of Conversations with Friends.
But surprisingly, the list of similarities doesn’t end here! In a 2022 interview with Variety, the actors revealed they were part of a WhatsApp group chat with Fleabag star Andrew Scott. “So what’s the name of the WhatsApp group we’re in?” the Gladiator actor asked. “I think it’s the Tortured Man Club. It’s me, you – and Andrew Scott started the group,” Alwyn replied.
The actors took a dig at Scott for talking alone and sending a good morning message to the group, even though no one responded. They further talk about being a part of Rooney’s universe and being directed by one of the finest.
The Kinds of Kindness actor said, “We were both in the Sally Rooney universe and came up with Lenny Abrahamson. We were very fortunate to have that experience.” Mescal agreed, calling Abrahamson one of the directors who “formed” him. “He has been extremely important in everything I’ve done since then,” she said at the time.
At that time, the heartthrobs were promoting their respective films. Mescal was starring in the film Afterson, directed by Charlotte Wells, where he played a single father trying to bond with his preteen daughter on a trip to Turkey.
Meanwhile, Alvin was there to talk about Claire Denis’s Nicaragua-set romance Stars at Noon opposite Margaret Qualley. During the interview, the actor praised Clair’s unique filmmaking style. “His shooting style was very unusual,” he said at the time. “She would also shoot things in a disorganized manner in a scene. It was very fragmented,” he explained.
Mescal, who recently played the protagonist in the Gladiator sequel, admitted at the time that he had never seen a director like Charlotte Wells. He also talked about enjoying “space” while doing a scene. “I like acting in that area where you know there’s a kind of theatricality to it,” he said at the time.
