Kildare native Paul Mescal was feeling the love at the Irish premiere of his new film "Gladiator II" at Dublin's Light House Cinema.

The film stars Kildare actor Paul Mescal, playing the character Lucius alongside co-star and two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington. Sir Ridley's first film in 2000, which starred Russell Crowe as soldier-turned-gladiator Maximus, won five Oscars including best actor and best picture.

Russell Crowe won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his towering performance in “Gladiator.” You might expect that Paul Mescal, star of “Gladiator II,” would reach out to him for advice on how to get into that 2nd century mindset.

The Paul Mescal lookalike contest is sadly an indictment of every Irish lad I’ve met who claims that Paul Mescal looks like every lad in Ireland,’ one person wrote on X

The Irish actor is worried more people will stop him in the streets due after the year's most giant blockbuster, Gladiator 2, comes out worldwide

The competition took place ahead of the Irish premiere of Gladiator II at the Lighthouse Cinema in Smithfield this evening, which Mescal is attending.

Paul Mescal has revealed ahead of the release of GladiatorII how he intends to balance out any fame that he gains from the film.