Daisy Edgar-Jones says Normal People was ‘the gold standard for sex scenes’

Daisy Edgar-Jones has praised Normal People for portraying sex scenes in a ‘beautiful’ way instead of the cringe-worthy way in which they are played out in Hollywood romances. 

The actress shot to fame playing Marianne in the miniseries alongside co-star Paul Mescal who played her lover Connell, with the BBC drama touted as the network’s sauciest show, thanks to its eye-watering 41 minutes worth of sex scenes across its 12 episodes. 

Reflecting on the many romance scenes in the adapted bonkbuster, the 23-year-old actress told Style magazine that it was ‘the gold standard [for sex scenes].’ 

She continued: ‘They were woven into the drama so beautifully. Why does the music have to change, the lights dim, the billowing sheets — a montage sequence?’ 

Visibly cringing, she added that while she had hoped the show would receive a good reception, ‘when it came out … Jesus’, adding that if she had known what a hit it would be, ‘I would not have been able to film any scenes.’ 

Daisy also revealed that she has remained friends with co-star Paul, 26, who like her has gone on to star in Hollywood movies. 

The actress recently starred in dark comedy thriller Fresh while Paul appeared in Oscar-nominated drama The Lost Daughter. 

Racy: The actress shot to fame playing Marianne in the miniseries alongside Paul Mescal who played her lover Connell, with the BBC drama touted as the network’s sauciest show

Daisy previously revealed that the equality between herself and Paul and the way their characters’ intimacy was portrayed was something that she was ‘most proud of’ in Normal People.

She said on the How To Fail podcast in 2020: ‘That’s one of the things I’m most proud of in the whole series is that sense of equality between Paul and I and is the representation of intimacy between Marianne and Connell.

‘I remember before the show actually aired, I had a few nasty comments on my Instagram because it was talked about a lot that there was to be quite a few raunchy scenes. I remember reading that because I thought it was interesting because I don’t really think of those scenes as raunchy or explicit because I really don’t think they are.’

She continued: ‘I remember seeing those comments and thinking, ‘oh gosh, am I going to get a lot of flack for doing those scenes and for having nudity?’ But since the show has come out, I have had nothing.

‘None of my friends have even mentioned the strangeness of watching because I think those scenes are done so beautifully by Lenny (Abrahamson, who directed the first six episodes) and by Hetti (Macdonald) who directed the second block and by all the creatives. I’m so proud of them.’

Daisy can currently be seen on the FX true crime series Under the Banner of Heaven alongside Andrew Garfield.

The crime drama – based on the 2003 book of the same name by Jon Krakauer – follows a devout detective (Garfield) as he investigates the brutal murder of a young Mormon woman (Edgar-Jones).

During his investigation, the detective begins to question his faith after learning of the murder’s ties to the followers of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

One to watch: Daisy will next be seen in true crime series Under the Banner of Heaven alongside Andrew Garfield, a crime drama based on the 2003 book of the same name