Since his debut in the acclaimed BBC screen adaptation of Sally Rooney’s “Normal People,” Paul Mescal‘s career has been on a remarkable upward trajectory. The Irish actor has starred in several successful projects in recent years, including “All of Us Strangers,” “Aftersun,” and the highly-anticipated sequel to Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator 2.” While fans of the Academy-award nominee are familiar with his impressive acting résumé, not everyone knows about his equally fascination collection of tattoos, which features at least eight unique pieces. Mescal’s tattoos are primarily concentrated on his arms, which makes them easier to cover when filming different roles.
To honor his family, he has two tattoos: one dedicated to his mother and another reflecting a cherished childhood memory with his father. Additionally, he has a tattoo paying homage to an iconic line from the romantic classic film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. And if you thought he didn’t have any ink referencing his breakout role, you can rest assured that he has one specific piece of artwork that he cryptically confirmed is linked to “Normal People.”
Ahead, we have rounded up all of Mescal’s known tattoos, along with their significance to the actor. Keep reading for a full breakdown of his growing ink collection.
Getty / Dave Benett
Paul Mescal’s “Meet Me in Montauk” Forearm Tattoo
During an October 2024 Entertainment Weekly interview for “Gladiator 2,” Mescal explained another one of his tattoos. Mescal has the script “Meet me in Montauk” written vertically across his left forearm, which he said he got during the Christmas of 2023. It’s an ode to the classic 2004 romantic movie “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” where this memorable piece of dialogue gets exchanged between the former lovers, Joel (played by Jim Carrey) and Clementine (played by Kate Winslet).
Getty / Jun Sato
Paul Mescal’s Intertwined Hands Tattoo
A beautiful ink depicting two intertwined hands is placed inside his right bicep. It is unclear when he got it or what inspired this piece.
Getty
Paul Mescal’s “Mom” Tattoo
On Mescal’s left upper arm, the word “Mom” is inscribed within a heart-shaped outline with an arrow passing right through it. This tattoo serves as a heartfelt tribute to his mother.
Getty / Randy Holmes
Paul Mescal’s Swallow Wrist Tattoo
On the inside of his left wrist, there’s a delicate swallow bird mid-flight, which holds a personal significance for the actor. While explaining the inspiration behind this design, he told GQ UK in a 2020 story that the swallow represents a core childhood memory of him and his dad. “My dad and I always used to go into the garden around March to spot the first swallows of the spring. It reminds me of him and home,” said Mescal.
Getty / Dave Benett
Paul Mescal’s Box Upper Arm Tattoo
On Mescal’s upper right arm is another intriguing piece of artwork. It shows a figure hidden beneath a cardboard box with two arms encircling its waist. While this artistic tattoo appears to carry significant meaning, the actor has not yet revealed any details about it.
Getty / PHILIP FONG
Paul Mescal’s Deer Tattoo
On his right forearm, the actor has a tattoo of a deer drawn in a minimalistic, one-line style. While talking with GQ, Mescal coyly admitted that this piece is inspired by “Normal People,” though he refrained from expanding on it. Many fans believe this design has something to do with his “Normal People” costar Daisy Edgar-Jones, who, in a 2020 interview with Goldderby, shared that she closely studied a deer’s expressions while portraying Marianne in the hit Sally Rooney adaptation. “I always think of deer to have these expressive eyes, and she uses a lot of eye contact,” she said.
Getty / RB/Bauer-Griffin
Paul Mescal's Circular Elbow Tattoo
Mescal has one circular ring adorned with tiny shapes inside his left elbow. It shares a visual resemblance with either a crop circle or a compass. He got the tattoo sometime in 2020 because he liked its look. “That one I just got recently, but literally means nothing; I just liked the design,” he shared with GQ.
Ina Bansal is a contributor at PS, where she writes for the Beauty vertical.
