Saoirse Ronan shuts down Paul Mescal with important point after he makes joke on Graham Norton show

An awkward moment from Friday night's star-studded instalment of The Graham Norton Show left viewers at home cringing after Saoirse Ronan brutally shut down Paul Mescal following a controversial comment about self-defence.

The fellow Irish folk appeared on the famous red sofa to discuss their respective upcoming projects - alongside Hollywood stars Denzel Washington and Eddie Redmayne.

While The Lovely Bones star Ronan, 30, was promoting her incoming war drama film Blitz, Mescal, 28, and his Gladiator 2 co-star Washington, 69, appeared on the talk show to give fans a glimpse into their eagerly-awaited sequel to the ancient Roman epic.

Attention then turned to their fellow guest Eddie Redmayne - known for his on-screen appearances in the likes of Les Miserables and The Theory of Everything, as well as his Broadway gig in Cabaret.

The actor's most recent role, however - in Sky series The Day of the Jackal - sees him take on the role of a highly-skilled assassin.

Discussing the television stint with presenter Norton, the conversation then turned to special combat, during which Redmayne, 42, recalled being trained to use his mobile phone as a weapon.

After explaining that he was shown how to jab an attacker in the neck, Mescal - who recently responded to viral rumours he takes one-night stands for a walk in the park, then sprints away - made a joke, claiming he'd never think to whip out his phone if under attack.

The panel were discussing self defence at the time (BBC)

"Who is actually going to think about that?" Mescal - also famed for his role as Connell in Normal People - asked.

"If someone actually attacked me, I’m not going to go 'phone'."

It was then that Ronan - the only woman on the sofa on Friday night (25 October) - made a pointed remark about self-defence which left members of the audience and viewers at home in shock.

"That’s what girls have to think about all the time," she said, leaving both Redmayne and Mescal - whom she previously starred alongside in Prime Video thriller Foe - silent.

"Am I right, ladies?" the actress added following a brief pause, after which she received a colossal round of applause from the live studio audience.

Despite Norton, 61, going on to change the subject, viewers at home weren't willing to move on from the exchange so quickly.

Viewers have since heaped praise onto the actress (BBC)

Taking to social media, a batch of fans have since heaped praise onto Ronan for highlighting one of the harsh realities of womanhood.

One penned on X in the minutes that followed: "Saoirse Ronan gagging men we love to see it - the way she waited to hear about their privilege, then hit them with a reality check."

Another went on: "That awkward silence after she dropped the bomb on them speaks volume."

"Oh you just know they all felt stupid after that," a third presumed.