Normal People’s Paul Mescal addresses chemistry with Daisy Edgar-Jones: ‘An innate thing’

Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones play lovers in the BBC’s TV adapation of Sally Rooney’s best-seller, Normal People. The actor has now opened up about their on-screen chemistry, admitting it’s not something you can “rehearse”.

It’s an innate thing, you can’t read a book and suddenly have chemistry

Paul Mescal

The 24-year-old spoke out about working with the actress, 21, and shooting their sex scenes.

The pair were assisted by intimacy coordinator, Ita O’Brien, which he admits took some of the pressure off.

Paul and Daisy play Connell and Marianne, who have grown up together and go to the same school.

The book and 12-part series follows them and their steamy relationship, from their indivuidual struggles as teens to attending Trinity College.

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It doesn’t take long for the pair to take things to the next level, which viewers of the new drama will be very aware of.

Speaking to Mr Porter, Paul commented: “You see loads of TV shows and films that have been really quite good, but you don’t buy the chemistry at the centre of the relationship.

“Even if we [he and Daisy] had rehearsed for five or six months, it’s not something that we could have cultivated.”

He continued: “It’s an innate thing, you can’t read a book and suddenly have chemistry between two people.”

The TV newcomer went on to discuss the show’s saucier moments, saying his nerves had kept him awake at night.

He recalled: “We would discuss the scene and then Ita would block what we had discussed, so it wasn’t mine or Daisy’s responsibility to decide what was appropriate…

“You’re told what to do. It’s freeing!”

Paul went on: “On the first Friday of the first week, we had a full day of sex scenes.

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“It’s fair to say we were both incredibly nervous. That Thursday, I didn’t sleep.”

He is currently isolating at his London flat solo, after moving in only weeks beforehand from Ireland.

His former flatmate was India Mullen, who played Peggy in Normal People, photographed him for Mr Porter before relocating.

Paul grew up in Maynooth, County Kildare, with his parents, sister and brother.

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He graduated from The Lir Academy at Trinity College in 2017, and swiftly moved into theatre.

Normal People is his first major television role, following the role of Matt in comedy Bump last year.

It comes after Daisy Edgar-Jones’ boyfriend was revealed to be a Game Of Thrones actor.

Normal People airs Mondays on BBC One at 9pm. The series is also available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.

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