We’re Thrilled At Paul Mescal’s Emmy Nomination. But What About Daisy Edgar-Jones?

We swelled with pride earlier this summer when we discovered that Paul Mescal was nominated for an Emmy for his role as Connell in Normal People. The Irish star has become a poster boy across the UK, and the world, after the drama became the must-watch show of the year, and people sought comfort and catharsis in the rollercoaster love story that seemed relatable to anyone who has ever been in love. An Emmy is the most prestigious award in international television, and Paul deserves recognition. But we couldn't help but be sad not to see Daisy Edgar-Jones receive the same nod.

We're not surprised that Paul thinks the same, as finally commenting on the snub, he told JustJared: 'It's disappointing because I would love to have shared that with her.'

Even though we're all disappointed about Daisy's lack of nomination - it still doesn't take away Paul's right to be delighted, and at the time, he shared an emotional response on Instagram. His performance was truly astounding. He brought Connell to life, with all his flaws and facets. He loved. He cried. He stripped. There is no doubt that he is deserving of his nomination, and that he has a promising career ahead. But Daisy definitely deserved one too.

Normal People is a story of two people, not one. Connell and Marianne are both the focus of the narrative. We follow both of their journeys. Daisy's performance is no less impressive than Paul's. She portrays Marianne's emotional arc beautifully. Her growth as a character is, if anything, broader than Connell's and, as an aside, she also had to perfect an accent that wasn't hers, a difficulty that Paul did not face. No one wants to pit them against each other. To say that Daisy deserved a nomination is not to detract from Paul's achievement. But it is a shame that only one member of an incredible duo is being acknowledged in this way.

Daisy, of course, reacted with grace, and has paid tribute to Paul on Instagram.

But why the snub? Does it come down to gender? Is Paul's depiction of Connell's emotional state - his sensitivity, his vulnerability - seen as more impressive because it flies in the face of what we consider to be traditional masculinity? Or is it actually a win for women? Perhaps, to look for something to celebrate rather than criticise, Daisy's lack of nomination points to an incredible year for women in television. Her loss is the gain of five other amazing women - Cate Blanchett, Regina King, Kerry Washington, Octavia Spencer and Shira Haas - who gave undeniably strong performances in the past twelve months. Maybe a few years ago Daisy would have been a dead cert for a nomination. Her absence from the shortlist shows that, maybe, roles for women are getting more interesting, more complex. Daisy is an unfortunate casualty, her snub a negative repercussion of a wholly positive change.

Daisy is a young, talented actress. She has plenty of time to earn Emmy nominations, to walk red carpets and collect trophies. These nominations will seem insignificant when the inevitable BAFTA nods come through and her career reaches new heights. But wouldn't it have been lovely to see Marianne and Connell's love story receive a surprise happy ending?

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