On February 2nd, 1996, a star was born.

The Maynooth-born actor is taking Hollywood by storm and has not only given stellar performances in theatre, movies, and on TV, but also some of the most iconic one-liners, reactions, and viral moments as his fame has steadily risen.

Paul is now a household name, a heartthrob, and an award-winning actor, and today, as he enters his 28th year, we want to celebrate the man we all love and adore.

Would we rather do this by seeing February 2nd be made a national holiday? Yes. But, for now, we'll just celebrate him with a look back on the times he stole our hearts.

That time Paul travelled to Bally.. haunis

When he made GAA shorts a global fashion trend

When he asked Amelia Dimoldenberg to pronounce his last name on Chicken Shop Date

The fact he is all of us on a night out

@gallxvichk nell’s christmas gift to the world #paulmescal #nellmescal #mescal #mescalites #paulmescaledit ♬ original sound - blueberry🫐

When he made the Irish language sexy at the BAFTAs

His bromance with Andrew Scott

@mtvuk #PaulMescal and #AndrewScott’s friendship is unmatched 🤌✨ #AllOfUsStrangers #MTVCeleb ♬ original sound - ⭐️

When he admitted he thinks about the Roman Empire not realising he is many of our Roman Empire's

@ameliadimz My Roman Empire. #PaulMescal @Gucci ♬ original sound - ameliadimz

The time he adorably posed with the book that launched his career

This tweet in response to being listed as British for an Emmy nomination #PatrioticKing

I’m Irish.

— Paul Mescal (@mescal_paul) July 29, 2020

How humble he is about fame because he still wants to feel like he can 'go out', 'get drunk' and 'meet someone in a bar

That time he almost cried watching Ireland's loss in the Rugby World Cup

@sportbibleireland Paul was every Irish person watching last night 😩 #fyp #ireland #irish #paulmescal #rwc #rugbyworldcup #worldcup #irishrugby #newzealand #sports #sport #reaction #sportstiktok #sporttiktok #trending #viral #trendingsound #emotional #lose #result #sad #crying #caughtoncamera #sunday #weekend #erastour #taylorswift #ksi #tommyfury #loganpaul #dillondanis #paris #france ♬ poison tree - ❀

The *unconfirmed* rumour that he runs away from his dates the next morning

That time he brought his parents to the Oscars

In general, his close relationship with his parents

When he gave his Normal People co-star, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Connell's chain as a parting gift after filming finished up

And, of course, his reaction to finding out about Connell's Chain Instagram account

Here's to another year of Paul Mescal!

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