House of the Dragon star Clinton Liberty suddenly got a sense of just how far he and his old classmate Paul Mescal had come in the production of their biggest jobs to date.
The 26-year-old actor came through Dublin's prestigious Lir Academy two years behind Mescal and says he was the Maynooth man's 'number one fan' long before either of the two became famous stars of either the small or big screen.
Liberty revealed that he took a moment to reflect on their impressive trajectories during the production of the hugely popular Game of Thrones prequel series, in which he plays Addam of Hull.
He told the Irish Mail on Sunday yesterday: 'I remember when I was filming House of the Dragon season two in Leavesden studio [near London], I'm aware that Paul was also filming Gladiator II, and we were filming on the same lot, which was insane.'
Asked whether the actors' paths crossed on that occasion, Liberty, from Laytown in Co. Meath, said: 'Unfortunately not, because we were both obviously really busy. But it was just a cool, fun fact to know that two boys from Ireland, from the Lir Academy in Trinity [College, Dublin] are here doing really cool projects.'
The rising star made his screen debut on the romantic psychological drama Normal People as a school friend of Connell - played by Mescal - alongside a host of other Lir alumni.
Liberty says he was 'the biggest fan of Paul Mescal in drama school, even before anybody knew him'.
'I was his number one fan, and I knew he was going to be huge. I was a massive fan of Éanna [Hardwicke, who was one year ahead at the Lir] and they were all really supportive.
'It's funny, I remember talking to Éanna when I was in drama school, and we just had this conversation about where we would like our careers to go once we graduated.
'And then, to see him doing the Roy Keane film [Saipan] and House of the Dragon came out last year - for me, it's a big deal - and Paul doing amazing too. It's really been a dream come true.'
The star of Feed, an upcoming 'vampire horror story' which is set in rural Ireland, said it has been 'crazy' to get recognised regularly since House of the Dragon came out.
'No one ever really prepares you for stuff like that. But people are really lovely, they're really respectful...And it's been awesome. It's been really fun.'
Asked when he was last spotted by a fan, he told the MoS: 'Yesterday! I was literally just walking through Temple Bar and someone stopped me and goes, "Oh my God, you're on [snaps fingers] Game of Thrones Addam of Hull Clinton!"
'That is so strange, because I've been in Dublin my whole life and I'm used to walking around Temple Bar and no one caring at all.
'And now to have people see your work and say "I know who you are" is obviously a testament to the work, but also I'm just grateful for it resonating with people,' the young star added.
