Paul Mescal honoured his Olivier Award victory on Sunday night in true style, by taking a late-night fast food run. The 27-year-old Irish performer received the award for best actor in a play for his role as Stanley Kowalski in the Almeida Theatre’s production of A Streetcar Named Desire.
It has since moved to the West End for a short engagement at the Phoenix Theatre. In his category, he faced stiff opposition from Tom Hollander, Rafe Spall, David Tennant, and Giles Terera, but he won in the part most notably portrayed by Marlon Brando in the 1951 film adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ play.
To cap off his night in legendary fashion, the celebrity then went to a nearby McDonald’s to satisfy his hunger after a lengthy awards show evening and a lot of celebrating.
His musical sister Nell, 19, chronicled the fallout of the Oliviers on her Instagram Stories, beginning with a jazzily illuminated photo of Paul standing with his prized statuette outside the Royal Albert Hall, where Ted Lasso actress Hannah Waddingham presented the event.
They then went to a fast-food restaurant, where Paul was photographed grinning as he clutched his award and considered the meal choices.
He then circled the gong, presenting a taste of his drink to the gong, which was created by artist Harrt Franchetti and portrays the illustrious Laurence Olivier – after whom the awards are called – as Henry V in the Old Vic’s 1937 performance of Shakespeare’s play.
With a final picture of Paul holding his Olivier in one hand and his late-night Maccies in the other, Nell demonstrated that their goal had been completed. The pictures immediately went viral on social media, with admirers praising Oscar nominee Paul for his relatability.
‘He’s so real for that,’ commented one, while another posted: ‘Honestly, king s**t.’
‘He is perfect, Lordy,’ swooned a third.
The actor had given his mother Dearbhla the sweetest shoutout earlier that night, as she is undergoing cancer treatment.
‘I hope you get better,’ he added onstage to her.
Dearbhla was diagnosed with Multiple myeloma last July, an incurable type of bone marrow cancer that often affects several areas of the body, such as the spine, skull, pelvis, and ribs.
She accompanied her son to a celebrity event for the first time last summer at Wimbledon, claiming she hadn’t done so before because he wanted to ‘protect’ her from the ‘crazy’ business. Dearbhla stated in her most recent update that she is handling things “day by day” and that her therapy has been given with “beautiful kindness.”
‘My mother and dad are at home,’ Paul told the PA news agency in the winners’ lounge at the Oliviers. My mother is currently ill, so ideally it will cheer her up, as well as my father, who is caring for her.
‘It kind of feels maybe narcissistic or egotistical to assume that that will help anything, but I hope that it does.’
Other winners on Sunday included Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer, who won best actor in a play for her one-woman piece Prima Facie. Meanwhile, Beverley Knight was named best actor in a supporting part in a musical for her portrayal as Emmeline Pankhurst in Sylvia at The Old Vic.
Arlene Phillips, a choreographer and former Strictly Come Dancing judge, received a special honor, while Sir Derek Jacobi received a lifetime accomplishment award for his outstanding service to theatre throughout his career.
Meanwhile, stage luminaries who perished in the previous year were remembered, including Paul O’Grady, Darius Danesh, and Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber’s composer son Nicholas.
Olivier Awards 2023 winners list
Best Entertainment or Comedy Play
My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre
Best Family Show
Hey Duggee The Live Theatre Show at Royal Festival Hall at Southbank Centre
Best Theatre Choreographer
Matt Cole for Newsies at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
Best Costume Design
Kimie Nakano for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre
Best Revival
A Streetcar Named Desire at Almeida Theatre
Best Musical Revival
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at Young Vic
Best Sound Design
Tony Gayle for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre
Best Original Score or New Orchestrations
Richard Hawley & Tom Deering – Music and Lyrics by Richard Hawley & Orchestrations by Tom Deering – Standing at the Sky’s Edge at National Theatre – Olivier theatre
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Will Keen for Patriots at Almeida Theatre
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Anjana Vasan for A Streetcar Named Desire at Almeida Theatre
Best Set Design
Tom Pye for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre
Best Lighting Design
Jessica Hung Han Yun for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Beverley Knight for Sylvia at The Old Vic
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Zubin Varla for Tammy Faye at Almeida Theatre
Best New Opera Production
Alcina by Royal Opera at Royal Opera House
Outstanding Achievement in Opera
William Kentridge for his conception and direction of Sibyl at Barbican Theatre
Best Actor in a Musical
Arthur Darvill for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at Young Vic
Best Actress in a Musical
Katie Brayben for Tammy Faye at Almeida Theatre
Best New Dance Production
Traplord by Ivan Michael Blackstock at 180 Studios (The Strand)
Outstanding Achievement in Dance
Dickson Mbi for his choreography of Enowate at Sadler’s Wells
Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre
The P Word at Bush Theatre
Best Director
Phelim McDermott for My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Theatre
Best Actress
Jodie Comer for Prima Facie at Harold Pinter Theatre
Best Actor
Paul Mescal for A Streetcar Named Desire at Almeida Theatre
Best New Play
Prima Facie at Harold Pinter Theatre
Best New Musical
Standing at the Sky’s Edge at National Theatre – Olivier theatre