Normal People star Paul Mescal has admitted that 2020 has been "the most adrenaline-fuelled, stressful" and "exciting" time of his life.

The 24-year-old gained global heartthrob status thanks to his performance in the hit drama, which was released as a boxset as the world entered coronavirus lockdown this spring.

Due to the pandemic, Mescal was forced to come to terms with his fame while largely confined to his small London flat but has since gone on to earn an Emmy nomination, appear in a Rolling Stones video and land a leading part in Maggie Gyllenhaal's upcoming directorial debut.

"It's weird. I know that when I look back, I'll remember COVID and how awful this year has been generally," Mescal told GQ's November 2020 issue. "But then, personally? It's been pretty, pretty good.

"To be thrust into the spotlight in a time when everyone's living in these really stressful environments of fucking COVID and trying to survive...

"It's just been the most adrenaline-fuelled, stressful, exciting time of my life."

All 12 episodes of Normal People are available now on BBC iPlayer in the UK, Hulu in the US and Stan in Australia.