It’s official: the world’s fallen for Daisy Edgar-jones
IF ONE PERSON has emerged as the star of lockdown, it is Daisy Edgar-jones. Six months ago, Grazia profiled the up-andcoming actor who was about to star as Marianne in the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel, Normal People. Now, it’s been revealed that the 12-part drama is the most popular programme in BBC Three’s history, receiving more than 21.8 million play requests on iplayer in just seven days – more than double the next most popular show, Killing Eve, with 10.8 million.
Daisy, 22, and co-star Paul Mescal, 24, who plays Connell, are household names; everything from Daisy’s fringe to Paul’s chain (not to mention shorts) have become the stuff of lockdown pop culture legend.
I interviewed a polite, sweetly nervous and excited Daisy back in January for Grazia – her first big magazine interview – and she told me all about how she had jumped for joy around her north London flat after the call telling her she had got the part. She said she was nervous for the show to air, adding, ‘I want to do justice to the characters who were written by Sally with such depth and nuance.’ Four months later, as the rave reviews rolled in, Daisy told me over Instagram DM that she was just ‘so relieved’ – it had been a painful wait from filming last summer until the show’s release.
She needn’t have worried, and the show has acted as a catapult directly into a mad new form of virtual stardom for Daisy who, along with Paul, has been the most indemand Zoom interviewee of lockdown – not to mention accruing half a million Instagram followers since April. She told the latest issue of Porter magazine of dealing with the new level of attention, ‘I turn my phone off and then I’m just inside, and my life isn’t very different, so it’s hard to comprehend that it really is that big…’
Normal People’s director Lenny Abrahamson, who also directed the Oscarnominated film Room, tells Grazia that he’s not surprised by the viewers’ response to Daisy as Marianne: ‘Daisy is so gifted, intelligent and insightful and so genuine, warm and open. These qualities are scarce individually and beyond rare taken together.’
Daisy was born in London to parents Wendy, a former film editor, and Philip, a TV executive (who was creative director of Big Brother for a decade). She acted with the National Youth Theatre while at school but got her first recurring TV role as Olivia in ITV’S Cold Feet in 2016. Hermione Norris, who plays Karen, Olivia’s mum, tells Grazia that she feels it was ‘a privilege’ to be present at the start of Daisy’s journey. She adds, ‘From her first days on set, Daisy showed a maturity beyond her years. She came across as an old soul, wise, with an immediate understanding of her surroundings. She is a beautiful, empathetic person and a hugely gifted and intuitive actress.’
While still in lockdown limbo like the rest of us, Daisy’s life has now changed forever professionally – even if she can’t physically act on it just yet, while filming and travel restrictions are in place. A source tells Grazia that she is currently ‘weighing up’ several exciting possibilities for her first big post-normal People project, both from Hollywood and the UK. ‘There hasn’t been a new star that studios and producers are so keen to work with for a while: the feeling in LA is that she’s in the same league as Jodie Comer and Phoebe Waller-bridge.’
Don’t expect Daisy to lose her un-celeby charm anytime soon, though. Like Margot Robbie before her, Daisy lives in a low-key London house-share with three friends, as well as her boyfriend, Game Of Thrones actor Tom Varey. How To Fail author and podcaster Elizabeth Day says she thinks people love Daisy, who appeared on the podcast last month, precisely because she’s so relatable. ‘She is the opposite of arrogant – always self-deprecating and willing to poke fun at her own absurdities. I think that’s why so many people have related to her and Paul – they feel authentic, and there’s a sweetness to both of them that has not been corrupted by fame. She doesn’t think she’s special, but she truly is, and this is a lovely thing. I’ve made her promise to come back on the podcast when she wins her BAFTA.’
It’s a strange time to find new fame, but Paul and Daisy have been supporting one another through their shared induction to this new life, even if it has to be over the phone. Paul told Grazia that they were looking forward to celebrating over a drink. Now both actors are the subject of serious awards buzz – with Emmy nominations due to be announced at the end of next month it’s highly likely they’ll each find themselves on the list. ‘Daisy has the world of Hollywood at her feet right now,’ says an insider. ‘It’s just a matter of time while she figures out what will be next.’