They were catapulted to fame when Normal People aired in 2020, with the show becoming the most-streamed series of the year on the BBC.
Yet lead stars Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal didn’t just walk away from the programme with a great addition to their CV, but a lifelong friendship too.
Dubbed ‘the first great millennial love story’, the 12-part series starred the pair as on-off lovers in Ireland and the show became famed for its very racy sex scenes.
Yet Daisy, 26, and Paul, 28, weren’t fazed by shooting the steamy shots as they had built up a good relationship on set.
Speaking to Deadline when the series came out, Paul described Daisy as his ‘best friend.’
How Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal’s friendship flourished after co-starring in racy Normal People (pictured at Glastonbury Festival in June)
The pair were catapulted to fame when Normal People aired in 2020, with the show becoming the most-streamed series of the year on the BBC
Daisy, 26, and Paul, 28, weren’t fazed by shooting the steamy shots as they had built up a good relationship on set (pictured in December 2022)
He revealed: ‘I’ve definitely found a friend, one of my best friends for life.
‘If the show had been an absolute failure, that’s something that brings me massive joy, that I found somebody who is an amazing person and who I really enjoy working with.’
Daisy added: ‘I think Paul and I will always be best friends.
‘One of the most special things I gained from Normal People was meeting Paul. Because it was a scary thing, and we were both very scared to go into doing it.
‘It’s a lot of pressure taking on characters that people have already fallen in love with, and that were locked in their own imagination.’
Daisy, who has been dating photographer Ben Seed since 2023, went on to joke that she had ‘fallen in love’ with Paul on set.
She shared at the Fastnet Film Festival in Cork, Ireland: ‘Met Paul, fell in love with Paul… as a friend. I’m announcing it here.’
Last month, the pair sent fans wild after spending the weekend together at the iconic Glastonbury Festival.
Paul described Daisy as his ‘best friend’, saying ‘I’ve definitely found a friend, one of my best friends for life’
Daisy, who has been dating photographer Ben Seed since 2023, went on to joke that she had ‘fallen in love’ with Paul when they met (pictured at the Met Gala in 2022)
Daisy was full of kind words for her former co-star last month, saying: ‘He’s an incredibly grounded person and I am too, I think’ (pictured in September 2023)
The actress sent fans into overdrive as she shared photos from the Worthy Farm music event, including one snap of her fun reunion with Paul.
‘Glasto, you’ve been good to me,’ Daisy captioned the post, which showed her and Paul with their arms wrapped around one another.
Yet some fans were misled by the cosy snaps, that saw the pair embracing in a field.
Speaking about how she deals with the romance rumours, Daisy told The Times: ‘You watch with bemusement really, because it’s interesting to see what narratives people write in.
‘Usually they’re quite harmless and when I’m spotted it’s normally just a lot of, “Oh, that’s Whatsherface?” And I say, “It is.”‘
Daisy was also full of kind words for her former co-star during a chat with Variety last month.
She told the publication: ‘He’s an incredibly grounded person and I am too, I think, so it’s nice to be able to have those touchstones and those people you can laugh about it with and be lighthearted with.
‘We met when I was 20 and Paul was 22; I’m so excited to see where we’ll be at 32, 42, and what life will bring us.’
The pair recently enjoyed a night out on a double date, with Paul and new girlfriend Gracie Abrams attending All Points East Festival with Daisy and Ben
While they have been enjoying hanging out together socially, it remains to be seen if the pair will work together again (pictured in Normal People)
The pair recently enjoyed a night out on a double date, with Paul and new girlfriend Gracie Abrams attending All Points East Festival with Daisy and Ben.
While they have been enjoying hanging out together socially, it remains to be seen if the pair will work together again.
During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Daisy was asked about the possibility of another Normal People, but she responded: ‘No there is no season two that I know of!’
If it was up to Daisy though, she would revisit Marianne and Connell, gushing: ‘It was really special, I love those characters and that world, I would love to revisit where they are ten years later. ‘
