Normal People's Paul Mescal on bringing Sally Rooney's novel to TV: 'What if I get this wrong?'
stars Mescal in his first on-screen role as Connell and Daisy Edgar-Jones as Marianne, a couple whose on-and-off relationship spans the course of the series, from their insecure high school days to their time as students as Dublin's Trinity College.
In such an intense and yet quiet story, the importance of authentic chemistry can't be understated. "From Lenny's perspective, that was why being rigorous with the audition process was so important," says Mescal. "He couldn't take a risk on two people who may or may not have chemistry because obviously that's the real central anchor of the series and indeed the book.
The tougher days on set may have come when Mescal was portraying Connell's anxiety and deep depression, but once again Rooney's source material provided much of the support he needed to tackle it authentically. "I was really excited by how Sally wrote it," he says. "She didn't try to over explain why Connell has anxiety, why Connell has severe depression. Instead she shows the effects of those things.
With all the intelligent effort and hard work put in, now all that awaits is the response from viewers, fans of the book and newcomers alike. Mescal would be lying if he said he isn't feeling the pressure. "From day one I was aware of how popular the book was and how people related to Connell," he says. "With great power comes great responsibility and there's an immense power behind the novel and the fans of the book are fanatic — and rightfully so.
Considering the positive early reviews, it seems more than likely he'll work again — and often. Now all he has to do is try and stay as normal as possible. "It's a weird feeling, because I still feel a degree of ownership over it with Daisy and everybody who made it and that's about to be lost," he says of the show's imminent release.
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