It’s been six years since Hamnet actor Paul Mescal and Twisters actress Daisy Edgar-Jones first met on the set of Normal People. The hit show served as both of their big breakout roles and also as Mescal’s first TV role ever. The limited series, released in April 2020, was the highly anticipated adaptation of Sally Rooney’s beloved novel that came out in August 2018.
Normal People centers around the main characters, Marianne Sheridan and Connell Waldron, played by Edgar-Jones and Mescal, respectively. The show is set in a small town in Ireland where Marianne and Connell are in their last year of high school. While Connell is popular and well-liked, Marianne is a quiet outsider. Despite their differences, they form a secret on-and-off relationship that follows them through their adult years. They drift in and out of each other’s lives, but even when they are apart, they still deeply influence one another and keep finding their way back.
Throughout the years since the show aired, many have speculated that the friendship between Mescal and Edgar-Jones in many ways mirrors Marianne and Connell’s complicated relationship in Normal People. There are countless interviews, and a specific jaw-dropping red carpet moment that have sparked rumors that Mescal’s feelings for Edgar-Jones may go beyond just friendship.
It’s well known that the adaptation of popular books is very controversial. Many people believe that a live-action version of their favorite book won’t do it justice. People are highly critical on casting, and there have been numerous adaptation flops in the past. However, this was not the case for Normal People.
In the show’s first week, it reached 16.2 million streams on BBC iPlayer, breaking the record at the time. It also became the most streamed show of 2020 on BBC, sparking major discussions in the midst of the pandemic lockdown.
The main creditor to the shows success is the deep chemistry between Mescal and Edgar-Jones. In an interview with BBC Mescal, said, “Thank God for chemistry, because if you don’t get that right I think its really impossible to do the story any justice.”
On the Met Gala red carpet in 2022, the infamous photo was born. Edgar-Jones poses for the photo, and in the background is Mescal with his partner at the time, “Scott Street” artist Phoebe Bridgers. Bridgers is seen smiling up at Mescal, while he stares past her, smiling at Edgar-Jones. This photo caused an uproar of speculation in the media, with many believing that the photo was representative of Mescal’s longing feelings towards Edgar-Jones.
In an interview with E! News, Jones addressed the rumors, saying, “Yes, I’ve seen the meme. It’s kind of wild considering the innocence behind it.” She later goes on to say, “honestly, he’s my pal, so he was probably just going like, ‘hey, there she is.'”
On that same Met Gala night, the three posed for a video together. They all wave to the camera, and Mescal waves with his hand that is wrapped around Bridgers instead of using his hand that’s wrapped around Edgar-Jones.
Many deep-dived into this video, noting that he used his non-dominant hand to wave. People believe that this simple act of removing his hand from Bridgers back while keeping his hand on Edgar-Jones reveals that Mescal may have feelings for her.
There have been many instances where out of nowhere, Mescal brings up Edgar-Jones. It seems as though he’s always waiting for a moment to speak about her, jumping on every opportunity.
In an interview with Vanity Fair during Mescal’s press tour for Gladiators II, Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn asks the cast, “What celebrity do I get mistaken for?” Swiftly, without hesitation, Mescal answers, “Daisy Edgar-Jones.” Is Mescal’s constant desire to mention Edgar-Jones simply due to his admiration for her, or are there underlying feelings to blame?
After Mescal and Bridgers messy split in December 2022, he started dating the “That’s So True” artist, Gracie Abrams, with them first being linked in June 2024. After his breakup, many theorized that it was finally time for love to bloom between Mescal and Edgar-Jones; his new relationship sparked further rumors.
Earlier this year, a framed photo of Mescal and Edgar-Jones in Normal People was spotted on the wall in Mescal’s house. Many believe that the photo is too intimate to hang on his wall, noting that it’s suspicious since he’s in a relationship with Abrams. On the other hand, others assume that he framed this photo in honor of the series since it marked a transformative time in his life.
In a 2025 YouTube video, creator Nicole Rafiee fully breaks down all the lore surrounding Mescal and Edgar-Jones’ relationship, starting with the actors’ backgrounds, first impressions of each other upon being cast, and also diving into relationships the co-stars have had with others, including Mescal’s current relationship with Abrams.
Since the adaptation of Normal People, there have been numerous moments of off-screen chemistry between the co-stars. Is the deep friendship formed while on the set of the series to blame, or is there a secret longing between the two?