It started with a look. You know the one—the silent, knowing glance shared between two people who clearly have more than just a professional rapport. If you’ve spent any time on the internet lately, your feed has probably been dominated by clips of Paul Mescal and Saoirse Ronan. They are the reigning royalty of the "Irish Wave" in Hollywood, but there is something about their specific connection that feels different from the usual PR-managed celebrity friendships.
Honestly, it’s refreshing.
While most of Hollywood is busy trying to sell us a curated version of "besties," Mescal and Ronan actually seem to like each other. They’ve gone from being "Hollywood friends" who knew each other in passing to what Ronan calls "genuine friends." It’s a distinction that matters in an industry built on smoke and mirrors.
That Viral Graham Norton Moment (And What We Missed)
Everyone saw the clip. It was late 2024, and the couch on The Graham Norton Show was crowded with heavyweights: Denzel Washington, Eddie Redmayne, and of course, our Irish duo. Redmayne was explaining the intense training he did for The Day of the Jackal, specifically how to use a phone as a weapon.
Mescal, being his usual charming, slightly self-deprecating self, joked about the practicality of it. "Who is actually going to think about that?" he asked, miming a frantic search for a phone during an attack. The men laughed.
Then came the silence.
Saoirse Ronan didn't laugh. She just said, "That’s what girls have to think about all the time."
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The room went quiet. It wasn't a "gotcha" moment, though the internet tried to turn it into one. It was a moment of profound perspective. What most people missed, however, was Mescal’s reaction in the weeks following. He didn't get defensive. He didn't hide. Instead, during an interview on The Late Late Show in early 2026, he called her "the most intelligent person in the room" and admitted she was "spot on."
They’ve actually had these conversations privately for years. They aren't just performing for the cameras. They’re two people from the same corner of the world—Mescal from Kildare and Ronan with deep roots in Carlow—navigating a massive global spotlight while trying to keep their heads on straight.
The Australian Connection: Where it Actually Began
While they were "aware" of each other for years, the real bond was forged in the middle of nowhere. Australia, to be specific.
In 2022, they flew to the Australian outback to film Foe, a dystopian sci-fi drama directed by Garth Davis. It was a grueling shoot. They played a married couple, Hen and Junior, living on a decaying farm in a future where the Earth is basically a dust bowl.
The movie itself? Kinda polarizing.
Critics weren't exactly kind to the "slow-burn" pace, but everyone agreed on one thing: the chemistry was undeniable. When you’re stuck in a remote location for months, filming intense, "raw-nerved" scenes about a marriage falling apart, you either end up hating your co-star or becoming incredibly close. For Paul Mescal and Saoirse Ronan, it was the latter.
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"We're not Hollywood friends," Saoirse told Document Journal. "We've become very, very close since making the film."
They even share a love for the Irish countryside. Mescal reportedly bought a place in West Cork near where Ronan owns property. It’s easy to imagine them escaping the chaos of London or LA to grab a pint in a quiet Irish pub where nobody cares about Oscar nominations.
2026 and Beyond: The Beatles Biopic
If you thought the Foe era was the peak, think again. The biggest news for fans right now is their reunion in Sam Mendes’ massive, four-film Beatles cinematic event.
This isn't just one movie. It’s four separate films, each told from the perspective of a different band member. All four are slated for a simultaneous release in April 2028. Paul Mescal has been cast as the legendary Paul McCartney.
And the casting for Linda McCartney? You guessed it. Saoirse Ronan.
Mescal has already confirmed he’ll be doing his own singing for the role. He’s been training throughout 2025 and 2026. "I've learned so much," he told British GQ. "It's really inspired a love." But the real excitement is seeing him and Ronan together again. Mescal recently told Us Weekly that he "can't wait to get into those scenes with her," calling her one of his best friends.
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The project is currently filming throughout 2026. Mescal described the production as "a while away from finishing," noting that it’s essentially his entire life for the year.
Why We Can't Stop Talking About Them
There’s a specific energy when two Irish actors make it big at the same time. We saw it with Cillian Murphy and Andrew Scott, but Mescal and Ronan represent a different generation. They are both multiple-award nominees who haven't lost their "normalcy."
They represent a shift in how we view celebrities. We don't want the untouchable, polished stars of the 90s anymore. We want the guy who still looks a bit surprised to be at the Oscars and the woman who isn't afraid to call out her friends on national TV when they're being a bit "lad-ish."
What to Watch Next
If you’re late to the party, here is how to catch up on the Paul Mescal and Saoirse Ronan cinematic universe:
- Watch Foe (Prime Video): Don't listen to the critics who say it's too slow. Watch it for the performances. The way they play off each other in the final third of the movie is masterclass-level acting.
- Revisit the Graham Norton Interview: Watch the full segment, not just the TikTok edit. It shows the genuine respect they have for one another.
- Keep an eye on the Beatles Biopics: This is going to be the defining project of their careers. With Barry Keoghan (Ringo Starr), Joseph Quinn (George Harrison), and Harris Dickinson (John Lennon) rounding out the cast, it’s basically an Avengers-level event for indie film fans.
The reality is that Paul Mescal and Saoirse Ronan aren't going anywhere. They are the backbone of the next era of cinema. Whether they're playing a crumbling couple in a dystopian future or the world's most famous musical duo, they bring a level of authenticity that’s hard to find.
Next steps: Set a calendar reminder for April 7, 2028. That’s when the Beatles films drop. Until then, keep an eye out for more "Irish excellence" moments—they’re clearly just getting started.