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Daisy Edgar-Jones Is Everyone’s Favorite Lit Girl

By Britt Hennemuth

Photography by Nick Riley Bentham

When Normal People arrived on Hulu in 2020, the adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel made a star of Daisy Edgar-Jones. The actor and avid reader has continued bringing more beloved books to the screen, including Under the Banner of Heaven and Where the Crawdads Sing. In the meantime, there’s Sundance darling Fresh, a comedy with a cannibalistic twist. Edgar-Jones reflects on her whirlwind rise and what chapters may lie ahead.

THE ONLY CHILD of a film editor mother and television executive father, Edgar-Jones fell for acting during a primary school play about Henry VIII. (She played Anne Boleyn.)

AFTER FOUR YEARS in small TV parts, she landed Normal People. Costar Paul Mescal “will always be one of my best, best friends. We were terrified, and we really held each other through that experience. Actually, we just went to Coachella together.”

SHE’LL NEVER FORGET filming Fresh ’s more gruesome scenes. “ ‘You want to have a shot of my bare arse on the operating table?’ That was the weirdest professional discussion I’ve ever had.” Reading the zany script, she remembers thinking, This could go really wrong. “But, do you know what? This is my 20s. I want this to be a time for learning.”

HONORING HER character in FX’s Under the Banner of Heaven, a murder victim, was crucial. “Brenda’s family is still alive, and we have an opportunity to share her life.” As pageant queen Brenda, the actor also performs “The Rose” onscreen. “Bette Midler, man. It’s quite a tricky song.”

AS A FAN of Delia Owens’s book, Edgar-Jones braved lightning, floods, gators, and cockroaches filming Crawdads in New Orleans. “I kept thinking, This is the scene in the book where…. And then going, Oh, my God, but we only have 20 minutes to film it.”

UP NEXT, she’s looking for a summer project, adjusting to Hollywood—“It’s surreal to be in a room with people you’ve been watching all your life, you feel like you stepped inside the telly!”—and hoping to get a call from Wes Anderson.

HAIR, RENATO CAMPORA; MAKEUP, SABRINA BEDRANI; MANICURE, ALEX JACHNO; TAILOR, SUSIE KOURINIAN; SET DESIGN, ANTHONY ASARO. PRODUCED ON LOCATION BY PREISS CREATIVE. LOCATION PROVIDED BY IMAGE LOCATIONS. FOR DETAILS, GO TO VF.COM/CREDITS .

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Daisy Edgar-Jones: Into the light

Daisy Edgar-Jones has enthralled viewers around the world with her sensitive performance as Marianne in the BBC’s adaptation of Normal People . She talks to Yasmin Omar about becoming an international star during lockdown and how she is using her new-found fame for good

Daisy Edgar-Jones wears silk shirt; Latex skirt, both Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

It is the hottest day of the year, and Daisy Edgar-Jones and I are picking our way through Alexandra Palace park in search of shade. Despite the soaring temperature, she emanates casual cool in a checked Ganni sundress.

It feels oddly novel for me to have a face-to-face interaction with someone after months of government-mandated lockdown, particularly when the person I am with recently transfixed the nation in the much-admired television adaptation of Normal People . Daisy immediately smooths over any unease inherent in our social-distancing: finding us a sheltered spot, kicking off her & Other Stories slides and sinking her toes into the grass. “I should’ve brought a picnic!” she says cheerfully.

Like everyone else, Daisy has spent a strange few months adjusting to life under quarantine. Getting out of the house for Bazaar ’s photo-shoot was something of a treat. “It was grand,” she enthuses. “I haven’t done many shoots in my life, they’re still so surreal to me. I was trying not to look awkward. I treat it like I’m playing a character, it’s worse when you’re yourself. You should see my school photos... so uncomfortable and greasy.” She hunches over in mock teenage self-consciousness, chuckling to herself.

Seeing how lively Daisy is in person – cracking jokes, gesticulating wildly and occasionally slipping into comic accents – only deepens my admiration for her breakout performance as the measured, pensive Marianne in Normal People . Based on Sally Rooney’s 2018 novel, the series plots the peaks and troughs of first love with a smouldering intensity. Its young couple Marianne and Connell (a searingly vulnerable Paul Mescal) are often caught in the impossible gap between thought and word, action and inaction, falling in and out of each other’s lives as they mature into adulthood.

Daisy brings a palpable authenticity to Marianne, developing her character from a hard-edged schoolgirl riddled with self-doubt to an assured woman confident in her own convictions. Fashion-lovers also noted that she blooms with an enviable bohemian glamour on the show, and The Irish Times touted Marianne as “the first great millennial TV style icon”. (Daisy herself has always enjoyed experimenting with clothes, and as a schoolgirl, scoured vintage shops for oversize shirts to pair with her mom jeans. Nowadays, she dresses elegantly in a chic parade of printed Vampire’s Wife dresses and cosy Bella Freud jumpers.)

Since its April debut, the show has been nothing short of a phenomenon, drawing critical acclaim and record-breaking viewing figures. “I’m really proud of it,” she says. “It’s so raw and honest. We’re not just seeing a glossy, honeymoon portrayal of love, we’re seeing the rust of life. It’s the truth of growing up.” Normal People was also praised for its sex scenes, which, in a move that feels revolutionary, feature 50:50 male:female nudity and actually serve to convey the development of Marianne and Connell’s relationship through its initial adolescent clumsiness into abiding passion.

An intimacy co-ordinator was hired to choreograph them, allowing the actors to be as comfortable as possible during their filming. “It was about creating a real friendship with Paul so we could trust each other,” Daisy says. “I’m lucky he and I understand each other and have a very similar sense of humour. Neither Paul nor I are ever sexualised in those moments. It’s just a story of young love.”

So convincing is Daisy’s performance that it’s hard to believe this was her first lead role. Jumping the hoops of the audition process, she was required to “awkwardly snog” thin air for her self-tape, then read a scene with Mescal to test their chemistry, which, as anyone who has seen the show will agree, burned with sincerity. Despite having “reread and reread and reread” Normal People , she was still daunted to step up as the top-billed talent. “It was bloody terrifying,” she says. “When I got the part, I was very excited. Then I had the fear settle in, the imposter syndrome of thinking, have they actually got it wrong? I learnt a lot during filming about being more confident in my voice and not feeling like I have to quieten it.” Another first for Daisy was having a say in script development. “Writing can be beautiful on the page but sometimes it doesn’t work as dialogue because it’s not quite natural,” she says. “Lenny [Abrahamson, the director] believed Paul and I had the right instincts, so he got us involved. I’d never done that before and it was really fun.”

At any other time, Daisy would be basking in the glory of her hit series with the usual cavalcade of parties and public appearances. Getting to grips with her growing popularity while staying at home has proven difficult. “It’s hard to come to terms with the success because it hasn’t been tangible.” She has primarily processed her sudden fame from her north-London flat – where she lives with two friends and her boyfriend – juggling calls from international press.

“I rest the laptop on four books on my record player, then I have my tea, water and little Filofax, and I sit and Zoom,” she explains. “My stylist has been very helpful with the waist-up wardrobe. I was running out of fancy tops. She knows everything I love – bold necklines, interesting sleeves and big patterns – and sent me some beautiful things to wear.”

.css-lt453j{font-family:NewParisTextBook,NewParisTextBook-roboto,NewParisTextBook-local,Georgia,Times,Serif;font-size:1.75rem;line-height:1.2;margin:0rem;padding-left:5rem;padding-right:5rem;}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-lt453j{padding-left:2.5rem;padding-right:2.5rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-lt453j{font-size:2.5rem;line-height:1.2;}}.css-lt453j b,.css-lt453j strong{font-family:inherit;font-weight:bold;}.css-lt453j em,.css-lt453j i{font-style:italic;font-family:NewParisTextItalic,NewParisTextItalic-roboto,NewParisTextItalic-local,Georgia,Times,Serif;} Ultimately, I’d love to direct. I’m really fascinated by film-making and cinematography

On social media, her profiles ticked up thousands of followers within hours of the series’ online premiere. Much ink has been spilled over the Instagram fan account that lustfully posts about the silver chain Connell wears in the show, but the Marianne’s Bangs page – which documents Daisy’s impeccably coiffed fringe – has its fair share of devotees too. “It’s so funny,” she says, laughing. “I got the fringe as a sort of break-up haircut after I came really close to a job and didn’t get it. The next week I had another audition for [the television series] War of the Worlds and got the part. I can act better with a fringe, it’s my secret power!” (Maintaining her signature hairstyle during lockdown, she admits, has been challenging; thankfully, it turns out one of her flatmates is quite handy with a pair of scissors.)

Daisy was born in nearby Islington in 1998, an only child of parents who both worked in media. Her father was the creative director of Big Brother in its glory days and her mother was an editor. A celebrated turn in a year-five play gave her the taste for acting and, by the age of 14, she had been offered a place at the National Youth Theatre (which counts Helen Mirren, Daniel Day-Lewis and Rosamund Pike among its alumni). Soon after, she notched up supporting parts in comedies such as Cold Feet and Outnumbered .

Daisy is clearly intrigued by cinematic craft, and throughout our conversation, she speaks authoritatively about shot composition and depth of field. Would she ever consider working behind the camera? “Ultimately, I’d love to direct,” she says. “I’m really fascinated by film-making and cinematography. As much as I love a performance, I also appreciate how a choice of lens or music can elevate it to a different level.”

She strikes me as someone who not only takes her career seriously, but is also intent on using the celebrity it brings to help others. It was at the National Youth Theatre that she befriended Leah and Mhairi Gayer, the founders of the not-for-profit Compass Collective, which connects young refugees and asylum seekers to the wider community through the arts. Daisy volunteered for the charity in 2018, and saw first-hand how much the children’s confidence and language skills improved from playing games for a few hours.

But now, all too soon, it’s time for her to head home and dial into another Zoom call. She chats about the Hillary Clinton docuseries she’s been watching on TV as we amble back towards the sun-baked streets. We pantomime our farewells at a two-metre distance and she lopes away, off to charm even more people with her formidable talent.

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Daisy Edgar-Jones interview: ‘What happened with Normal People was surreal’

The ‘Fresh’ star on her chewy new thriller, dating red flags and being mates with Paul Mescal

A couple of years ago Daisy Edgar-Jones was starring in small but grabby parts in telly shows like Cold Feet and Silent Witness . Then the pandemic happened, Normal People landed and she went supernova as Marianne, the Irish student whose love affair with Paul Mescal’s Connell (and his chain) kept us all sane during the dark days of lockdown. Colossal fame, inevitably, feels a bit abstract when you’re stuck in your house 24/7. ‘It was all happening online, so it felt like playing a video game,’ remembers the 23-year-old north Londoner. ‘I couldn’t tell if it was real or a Sims game.’ Her first major movie role pairs her up with one-time Avenger Sebastian Stan in  Mimi Cave’s   Fresh , a gnarly, twist-filled social thriller about the horrors of online dating. 

After a gentle opening, the film goes off in a dark and surprising direction. Did you feel the same rug-pull the audience feels w hen you first read the script? ‘Yes, I really did. I genuinely didn’t expect all the twists and turns. I was on a drive somewhere and when I got out I had to walk to a hotel and I was genuinely scared walking on my own.’

Did you watch any films to prepare? ‘I watched Silence of the Lambs , Get Out and Sightseers , which is a favourite of mine and helped with [locating] the film’s tongue-in-cheek tone.’

‘Fresh’ tackles dating red flags. What are yours? ‘My character, Noa, experiences all of them in the film. I definitely think taking leftovers [home from a restaurant] is a bit rude, and being rude to a waiter would be a big red flag.’

Is social media a red flag? Being on it too much or not at all? ‘I think it’s quite cool to not have it, to be honest. If you don’t have social media it means you're against the grain a little, which is quite cool.’

How did you prepare for the role? Did you go online a lot? ‘Mostly it was the accent, because I’d never done an American dialect and I was nervous about getting it wrong. And I did a lot of zooms with Sebastian Stan and (co-star) Jojo [T Gibbs]. Luckily, we also had two weeks of quarantining [together] to get to know each other, work on our scenes and make carrot cakes.’

I’ve always had an ear for accents. I feel very shy when I’m acting in my own voice

Is it true you used to do accents with your mum when you were a kid? Did that help? ‘It definitely did. I grew up with lots of strong accents in my house, and mum and I would do wee characters with each other. It’s always been something I’ve had an ear for. I much prefer acting in an accent. I feel very shy and self-conscious when I’m acting in my own voice.’

Normal People racked up 62 million iPlayer views in 2020. How surreal was it to have this massive moment during lockdown? ‘Surreal is the word. Since then I’ve gone from Covid to a year abroad on different film sets, so it’s only been in the last few months that I’ve become aware of the shift. Now people actually come up and tell me they loved the show. It’s been really lovely to know how many people genuinely love the series.’

Do people shout ‘Marianne’ at you in the street? ‘I haven’t had that yet, although it might come. But a lot of people have said that it was a big part of their lockdown. It’s mad to think that we were in people’s houses when they were going through such a weird time.’

It was you guys, banana bread and  Tiger King keeping us sane. ‘... and  I May Destroy You .’

Right, of course. Do you still keep in touch with Paul Mescal? ‘Yeah, we talk on the phone a lot. He’s in Australia filming at the moment. It’s amazing that our careers launched together with “Normal People”. Do I follow @connellschain on Instagram? I think I do, yes.’

People don’t shout ‘Marianne’ at me in the street yet, but it might come

Where do you think you’ll be in ten years? Do you have ambitions to make your own films? ‘I definitely have an interest in directing. I’m drawn to stories and characters that are really different from anything I’ve done before – to seeing how far I can depart from myself in my characters. I really like working with visual filmmakers and I loved being in Mimi [Cave’s] world with  Fresh . I liked how it takes romcom tropes and gives them a contemporary female spin.’

You studied drama at the National Youth Theatre in Holloway. What were your old student stamping grounds? ‘Definitely Holloway Road and Finsbury Park. We went to Camden a lot: Camden Lock and the vintage stores to buy clothes.  I grew up in north London, so north was where I'd hang. ’

What was your style back then? ‘Gosh, it was terrible. I bought this tweed green jacket that I thought was really cool and halfway through the day I felt something biting my back. I realised that there was something living in it that was eating me. I bought a pair of overalls and found a smushed-up chocolate bar in the pocket. I had good hygiene, but that was not good.’

I read that you’re learning to DJ. What would be your dream London club to play in? ‘That’s a great question. Maybe Printworks ? My favourite club is Bussey Building in Peckham, where they have the Soul Train nights. That would be a cool venue, although I’m not sure I’m good enough to DJ in front of people.’

What’s your guaranteed floor-filler? ‘Any Peggy Gou for a mooch on to the dancefloor, then maybe Bicep to be more thinky, and remixes of Chic’s “I Want Your Love” for a boogie.’ 

‘Fresh’ is streaming on Disney+ from Mar 18. Read our review here .

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Daisy Edgar-Jones: ‘When you get famous, it’s a funny concept to get your head around’

The star of normal people on family, fame and her upcoming role in where the crawdads sing.

Daisy Edgar-Jones: 'I want the characters I play to be truthful to the women I know. And the person I am.' Photograph: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

“It’s certainly been a wild few years,” says Daisy Edgar-Jones, neatly summing up life since Normal People. She’s sitting in the five-star Rosewood Hotel in London’s High Holborn where, in a nod to Wimbledon, yellow tennis balls have been hung like bouncy fruit in the courtyard’s lush green trees.

She is wearing a ruffled white shirt with blue jeans as she reflects on the post-Normal People personal and professional whirlwind. The success of Lenny Abrahamson’s TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel, a source of pandemic pride in Ireland as well as lockdown catnip for millions around the world, meant she went from young jobbing actor to instantly recognisable name overnight.

“It’s strange when you go from being just Daisy, to being a full name, to being Daisy Edgar-Jones,” she says, while discussing the experience she shared with her friend Paul Mescal, who played tongue-tied Connell to her spiky Marianne.

Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kya in Where the Crawdads Sing

We’ll talk more about Mescal and Normal People later but she’s here, with earrings from Tiffany & Co and that deeply familiar dark brown fringe, to promote the movie adaptation of another beloved book, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. Though first published in 2018 with a tiny — and as it turned out deeply pessimistic — print run of 28,000, the book went on to sell nearly 5 million copies, gaining even more momentum during the pandemic two years after its release.

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At a time when we couldn’t go anywhere, this escapist, immersive novel about a girl who grew up mostly alone in the marshes and swamps of North Carolina in the 1950s and 1960s struck a chord. A first novel for 70-year-old Owens, a zoologist and scientist, it told the story of Kya who is abandoned, first by her mother who is escaping domestic abuse, then by her older siblings and finally her violent father. She is left without any formal education to fend for herself, relying on the ebb and flow of the nature that surrounds her to understand life and ultimately scrape a living and survive. She becomes an outcast from society, reliant on the kindness of shopkeepers Mabel and Jumpin’, while whispered about and ridiculed elsewhere in the local town of Barkley Cove. Interrupting this lonely existence are two intense romantic entanglements with local men Tate and Chase, played in the movie by Taylor John Smith and Harris Dickinson. A gripping murder mystery plot thrums away in the background.

Edgar-Jones is mesmerisingly good as Kya, imbuing the role with an intoxicating mix of grit, wonder and vulnerability. Those expressive brown eyes we admired in Normal People, variously throwing daggers of disappointment or devotion in Connell’s direction, flash with wonder and a survivalist spirit as she steers her boat through the swamps. A champion diver in her youth, she did most of the stunts — in alligator-infested waters — herself. “That was fun,” she smiles. She read the book “over and over” to prepare for the role, even trying her hand at painting. Kya is a skilled illustrator of the feathers, shells, birds and other creatures she encounters.

Crawdads was filmed over five months last year in marshland around New Orleans. “Kya lives and survives in this quite sort of dangerous, perilous landscape which is a great backdrop for the murder-mystery aspect of the story but it was also quite beautiful. There were massive egrets flying above and snakes and dragonflies. You couldn’t really ignore the nature.”

Her voice as Kya is lyrical in that way of the American deep south. She has a natural gift for accents, helped, she says, by growing up around a Scottish father and Northern Irish mother. Her natural voice is a mix of English and Irish tones; she says “wee” sometimes instead of small. Reese Witherspoon, the Oscar-winning actor who co-produced Crawdads with Lauren Neustadter, has described Edgar-Jones as “a once in a lifetime talent. She can morph herself into so many different characters... I’m pretty tough on southern accents and Daisy just fell into it so beautifully with a real respect for the language.”

Crawdads is a story of female empowerment as much as anything else. No matter what happens, Kya refuses to be broken or beaten down. Did that appeal? “I am always keen to play characters that are complicated and who represent real women and not just there to serve a man’s story. I want the characters I play to be truthful to the women I know. And the person I am.”

Director Olivia Newman assembled a predominantly female production crew, including director of photography Polly Morgan and production designer Sue Chan. Edgar-Jones appreciated the novelty of that. “When we were filming, all the heads of department were mostly women, which I’d never experienced before. So it was really cool as a young actress and exciting to see all these women be completely in their power. It worked for the story too, because it’s the story of somebody who can’t be put into a box. And despite everything, is able to survive and thrive. I think it was really important to have representation behind the camera in that way.”

Something common to most of her roles so far, from Marianne to Kya to Brenda Wright (the Mormon fundamentalist played by Edgar-Jones in the crime miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven), is that they are outsiders.

Daisy Edgar-Jones with Paul Mescal in Normal People: 'He’s one of my best friends in the whole world and always will be.' Photograph: Enda Bowe/Element

“Maybe people sense that in me?” she laughs. “But I think we’ve all felt like an outsider at times. It’s a very human experience. I’m drawn to those characters, but I am also drawn to stories that celebrate profound relationships that come into our life. Marianne, at the end of Normal People, talks about how Connell completely changed her life and did so much good for one another. I think it’s the same with Kya. Although she’s isolated, she has these profound connections with Jumpin’ and Mabel and they fundamentally shape her life and who she becomes. I fundamentally believe that is what life is about really, the people that come into it and who change your course.”

This feels like a good time to bring up Paul Mescal. “He’s one of my best friends in the whole world and always will be,” she says. “I can’t put it into words how much I loved working with him and I’d love to again. For both of us [Normal People] was our first lead role, we were excited and also terrified. Talking about people who come in and change your life, all the people on that job made me who I am and I’m just so grateful.” She reunited with some of the cast including Mescal at Glastonbury in June. “We still get so excited and giddy when we’re all together.”

Edgar-Jones’s experience of auditioning for Crawdads closely mirrored her Normal People audition in 2019. Then, she was working on the first season of TV show War of the Worlds, in which she played Emily. She co-opted her friend and castmate Bayo Gbadamosi to read Connell’s lines and it must have gone well, because as we know she landed the part of Marianne. Almost exactly a year later, when working on the second season of War of the Worlds, she was asked to do a self-tape for the part of Kya. “I was like, come on Bayo, sorry, but it worked the first time. So he played Tate and Chase and I read the book while sitting in a spaceship.”

Playing beloved characters such as Kya and Marianne in film or TV, characters readers already have a relationship with, is something Edgar-Jones agrees adds another layer of pressure to a role. She contrasts that with playing Noa in her first feature film Fresh, a blackly comic thriller which premiered earlier this year at Sundance Film Festival.

“I had a very clear idea of who Noa was when I read the script, but it also felt good that if I didn’t quite get the character no one would know. So there is definitely an added pressure, especially when for both Where The Crawdads Sing and Normal People you know the characters are so loved and you do feel a responsibility to get them right. But with Crawdads, I also knew that having had the experience of Normal People, so much of film-making is a collaborative process. The acting is a tiny part of it. A lot of the performance is crafted in the edit, and with costume and in the camera work. So it’s a very nice feeling to give myself over to this team and this project and just to enjoy the collaboration. And all of us are trying to do our best and we’re all in it together.”

Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones. 'Two years have passed, and people still want to talk about Normal People,' says Edgar-Jones. Photograph: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Making Normal People was “life-changing”, she says. Among other accolades, it earned her a Bafta nomination and a Golden Globe. She turned 21 the week before filming began and when the show was released we were in the middle of the pandemic. As a result, she feels she was somewhat cosseted from the intensity of sudden global fame.

“When it came out I didn’t actually have any real real-time experience of it because I was still just locked in my house watching Tiger King. So it was a really slow sort of introduction [to wider fame]... and I guess it meant that I was able to really focus on what mattered, which was the experience of making something... then I went away to work and I was just sort of in various different Covid bubbles. So, again, I didn’t have really much interaction or experience of it. But now that the world has opened up a little and I’m more able to be around people a bit more now, I can really feel that.”

She has experienced, as many of us have, the telescoping of time. “The show came out two years ago now, which is wild, that time has flown. I don’t feel like I’m 24, but I am. Two years have passed, and people still want to talk about the show. And we’re still talking about it now. It’s really special because that show means everything to me. So to be able to meet people who loved it, and connected with it, is actually just lovely. And all my interactions have always been really positive.”

Mescal, by contrast, has deleted his Instagram account describing it as “a drain” and in an interview once described his experience of sudden fame as “brutal”. “At first you think, ‘Oh, this is a bit glamorous,’ when someone is taking a picture of you buying ready-to-eat avocados and cigarettes at the off-licence, but soon enough you feel it begin to infiltrate your brain,” Mescal has said. “Just bulls**t like caring what I was wearing before leaving the house. As an actor I think you need to remain fairly anonymous and I found the lack of anonymity difficult.”

Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kya and Taylor John Smith as Tate Walker in Where the Crawdads Sing

“I love acting because I like disappearing,” says Edgar-Jones. “I like thinking somebody’s else’s thoughts and departing from myself. And so when you get famous in any way, it’s a funny concept to get your head around. But I think if you have great people around you, who see you as you are and who will always see you that way, then you will be fine.”

She is the only child of parents who have both worked in the film and television industry; her mother Wendy Edgar worked as a film editor and her father, Philips Jones, is director of Sky Arts and head of entertainment at Sky TV. Did it help that they were familiar with the industry? “Well, they both understood what it is to be self-employed, which is very helpful when pursuing acting,” she says. I ask what qualities she shares with them. “They are both very kind people and don’t take themselves too seriously. Those are qualities I would like to have. And they are both very empathetic, which is also a handy quality as an actor.”

It was her mother who suggested she audition, aged 15, for the National Youth Theatre after seeing her shine in school plays where she was cast as Peter in Peter Pan and Alice in Alice in Wonderland. “It was an open casting that came online. I think of it as a sort of sliding doors moment. My mum saw something in me and said you should audition for that so I did. And when I got it the casting director knew an agent who was looking for a young actor to take on and I signed with Chris [Christopher Farrar of Hamilton Hodell]. Meeting him changed my life because it meant I was able to audition for things and be seen.” She was cast in TV shows such as Cold Feet, Outnumbered and Gentleman Jack before she won her first lead role in Normal People.

Growing up in London she says she always felt sure of herself while acting. “I always felt confident in that arena... I’ve always been more interested in what the other person is thinking and feeling. So I found it really fun to understand how to read a character and step into somebody else.”

Is she the kind of person who can pick up the energy in a room? “I am, yeah. I’m a bit like that. It can be great. And it can also be harmful because you can’t turn it off. As an actor it’s really helpful. You are able to capture an energy and stay in that feeling. People always say actors must be good at lying, but actually I think acting is completely truthful.”

Olivia Newman, Reese Witherspoon, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Taylor John Smith and Delia Owens. Photograph: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

I remind her of an Instagram post in which she said she was reading a book called Please Yourself by psychotherapist Emma Reed Turrell. The book describes different kinds of people-pleasers. Edgar-Jones identifies as “a pacifier”. The book says they “keep the peace at all costs, avoid conflict by burying their feelings and won’t challenge others’ behaviour. Pacifiers seek the acceptability of the middle road, never voicing a contentious opinion or unpopular preference.”

Where is she on the people-pleasing scale now?

“I think people-pleasing is maybe a very female experience,” she says. “I’m trying to learn how to be what is known as compassionately direct. It’s a way that you can be generous with your spirit and be kind and nice to work with but also ask for what you need. Learning that the word no is a full sentence is a really hard thing to do and to accept and to practice, but it’s important.”

Is she getting better at it? “Definitely. I think age helps for sure, and just having more experiences that you learn from.”

Speaking of experiences, does she have a long-term strategy for her career or is she taking it as it comes? “I want to continue to work with film-makers I admire... I like being part of somebody else’s vision and giving myself over to that experience. I hope I am lucky enough to continue doing that.” Directing is also an ambition. “I love seeing how actors approach different material. I’m fascinated by it all. By cameras, by film-making and I love music, so the soundtrack to a film is always interesting to me.”

Her love of music means she always makes playlists for her characters. “For Kya it was a lot of nature sounds obviously, but also a great piece of classical music with a weighty cello. And also Bat For Lashes, for some reason.”

“I nearly fell off my chair,” she says, on hearing Taylor Swift had composed a song for the Crawdad’s soundtrack. She’s been a fan of the singer for years. “I knew someone had written a song but I had no idea it was Taylor Swift. It could not be more perfect for the film.” Has she met her yet? “Potentially at the premiere, that would be amazing.” She has also exchanged “the odd email” with Sally Rooney about Normal People. “I should get them framed. Sally makes the most simple thing so profound. I’m obviously a huge admirer of hers.”

Daisy Edgar-Jones: 'I love acting because I like disappearing.' Photograph: Dave Benett/Getty Images

When I ask if she’s read any good books lately, she mentions No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood. Rooney is a fan, and that’s what encouraged her to read it. “I saw a quote of Sally’s saying ‘I adore this book’ and it is a really great read, so witty.”

She’s looking forward to catching up with friends when she comes back to Ireland for the premiere of Where the Crawdads Sing. Most of her main friendships, she says, have been through work. “I feel very lucky. On every job I’ve managed to collect absolute gems of human beings.” After that she’ll start work on other projects she can’t talk about. “They haven’t been announced yet, but I can’t wait to start. I’m excited.”

Our time is up. I compliment her outfit and she tells me it was put together by a woman called Nikki “who is much more stylish than me”. She likes dressing up and appreciates the part of her job where she gets to wear beautiful clothes styled by experts at glamorous events such as the Met Gala. (For fashion fans: her shirt is St Roche, the jeans Maje, her shoes Giuliva, and not forgetting those Tiffany & Co accessories).

I slip in a few quick-fire questions before the PR person, who has been sitting with us in the room, whisks her off to the next interview. What’s the scariest animal in the world? “Spiders, definitely,” she says without hesitation. If you had to listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be? “Oh my gosh,” she ponders. “Maybe, Never Too Much by Luther Vandross.” Describe the rest of your life in a few words. “Full of great people, I hope.”

And then she’s gone. Daisy Edgar-Jones, a charming young woman with an award-winning talent for disappearing.

Where the Crawdads Sing is in cinemas from July 22nd

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On my radar: Daisy Edgar-Jones's cultural highlights

The Normal People star on livestreamed theatre, the best TV show she’s ever seen and a gem from her dad’s record collection

A ctor Daisy Edgar-Jones was born in 1998 in Islington, London. She trained with the National Youth Theatre and her breakthrough acting role was in ITV’s comedy drama Cold Feet aged 17. She made her film debut in 2018’s Pond Life but is best known for playing Marianne earlier this year in the critically acclaimed BBC adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel Normal People . Edgar-Jones stars in Mike Bartlett’s play about politics and patriotism, Albion , filmed at the Almeida theatre and airing at 10.10pm on BBC Four tonight and subsequently on iPlayer.

This is one of the best TV shows I’ve ever watched. It’s told from the perspective of Rue, a recovering drug addict played by the phenomenal Zendaya, who laces her character with so much humour and darkness and scar tissue. Sometimes it feels as if the camera is on some form of narcotic as it swings upside down or follows two characters in dizzying spirals as they run up and up a flight of stairs. The costume, music, makeup, sets, characters, writing are all phenomenal. It’s truly a feast for the eyes.

I was lucky enough to get tickets to the first livestreamed performance of this at the Old Vic. The story tracks the relationship between a couple as they debate the ethics of bringing a child into the world; it’s funny and moving and brilliantly observed. Both Claire Foy and Matt Smith are amazing in it, and I found it so interesting how powerful theatre is, even when delivered through a laptop. The actors and writing paint the world for you so vividly you can still suspend your disbelief. Also, no interval queue for the toilets.

If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor

This story follows the lives of various residents on one single street, all united by one event that took place there. The book celebrates the parts of life we take for granted, and, having spent so much time in lockdown, I’m hyper-aware of what I also take for granted. How wonderful sitting in a pub with a pal is, how great it is to hug your parents. I’m also very aware of all the strangers that live on my street: we all experienced lockdown together, we had the same footpaths we could use for our daily walk, the same corner shop to stock up on loo roll, and yet I don’t know anyone to say hello to.

The Last Black Man in San Francisco (dir Joe Talbot)

I watched this film not knowing what to expect and I fell in love with it. The story follows a man living in San Francisco, who is on a journey to reclaim a beautiful house his grandfather built and lived in, much to the annoyance of the current residents. It’s like watching moving art and the soundtrack is beautiful, I’m still listening to it now. The story is inspired by the lead actor and it’s directed by his old school friend. It really is a film made with love.

Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd

We have a record player and I have a load of my parents’s old vinyl albums from when they were young. When I was 18, I found my dad’s copy of Dark Side of the Moon and thought it was incredible. I enjoy the thought of my dad listening to it when he was younger, with all the same scratches and jumps in the record, and I like the use of sound recorded from people chatting or clocks ticking, layered and fed into the music. It’s a good one to have a bop to on your own before bed.

6. Documentary

Hitsville: The Making of Motown (dir Benjamin Turner and Gabe Turner)

I always love a good music documentary and this is just brilliant. It tracks the birth of Motown Records in Detroit in 1958 and the amazing hits and artists that came out of there. We see the insane talent of Smokey Robinson , the Temptations , Diana Ross and the Supremes , Marvin Gaye and so many more as they work together to make music. The documentary explores the sense of community surrounding the label and how they dealt with the success they had when they started making nothing but hits. It also shows you how the label really changed culture for ever. You’ll be tapping your foot for the whole film.

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Daisy Edgar-Jones: things you didn’t know about the Normal People and Where the Crawdads Sing star

Daisy Edgar-Jones shot to fame playing Marianne in Normal People but what else is there to know about her?

Daisy Edgar-Jones is hot property in the acting world right now. Having cut her teeth as a regular in ITV drama Cold Feet , in 2019 she landed the lead role of Marianne Sheridan in the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People . The captivating coming-of-age love story was released at the beginning of the covid pandemic and amassed an incredible 63 million views on BBC iPlayer, turning Daisy and co-star Paul Mescal into overnight celebrities. 

Following the staggering success of the series in both the UK and US, which earned Daisy BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations, the star is now one of the most in-demand British actors. 

Last year she worked back-to-back in America and Canada — filming murder miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven opposite Andrew Garfield, gory satire Fresh , which was released in March to rave reviews, and the movie adaptation of the Delia Owens novel, Where the Crawdads Sing . The film is executively produced by Hollywood royalty Reese Witherspoon and sees Daisy playing protagonist Kya, aka 'Marsh Girl'. 

The future is definitely looking bright for Daisy. Here are a few fun facts you may not know about her…

Her parents are in the media industry

Daisy Jessica Edgar-Jones was born on 14th May 1998 in Islington, and grew up in Muswell Hill, North London. The only child of Wendy and Phillip, it seems Daisy was always destined for a career in the media. Her mum was a film producer, while her dad is Head of Entertainment at Sky. Daisy first fell in love with acting aged seven when her teacher cast her to play Anne Boleyn in a production about Henry VIII done in the style of Jerry Springer . 

“That was when I first had that experience of enjoying and really inhibiting a character,” she told Rolling Stone . With the full support of her parents, Daisy joined the National Youth Theatre and after being signed by an agent she secured her first TV role, playing Olivia Marsden in ITV’s Cold Feet . Roles in Brit indie flick Pond Life , BBC’s Gentleman Jack , and miniseries War of the Worlds followed before she was invited to try out for the part of Marianne Sheridan in Normal People , which would take her career to a whole new level. 

A post shared by Daisy Edgar-Jones (@daisyedgarjones) A photo posted by on

She’s a former head girl

She may have played an outcast in Normal People , but in real life Daisy was very popular among her peers, and head girl at The Mount School for Girls. In a recent interview with The Times she revealed: “I’ve always been quite a good girl — I was head girl — and I found a diary entry recently where I was stressing out, aged 15. I was like, ‘Oh my God, I am so stressed because I feel such responsibility to be a role model as head girl, but I want to join in with my friends and laugh.’” 

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Despite being on the cusp of becoming a Hollywood A-lister, down-to-earth Daisy still describes herself as the ‘geeky, odd person’ in her friendship group and insists she’s always the butt of her pal’s jokes.

Tom Cruise was her first crush

Daisy has acted opposite quite a few handsome men, but remembers the first actor to ever make her giddy was Tom Cruise. “When I was seven my parents told me we were watching Top Gun and apparently I came over all funny and started laughing hysterically every time Tom Cruise came on screen,” the star confessed. It wasn’t just Maverick that made Daisy go weak at the knees. She also used to have a thing for actor Logan Lerman, who played Percy Jackson in the film adaptation of the popular book series. 

Her famous fringe is a lucky charm

After being rejected for an acting job in the spring of 2019, Daisy decided to freshen up her image by having a fringe cut in. Shortly after getting her new do, she auditioned for Normal People and is convinced her now famous bangs helped her land the role of mysterious Marianne. 

Much like Connell’s chain necklace, Marianne’s choppy fringe became as iconic as the character herself and was mentioned in nearly every print and online publication. Although Daisy was initially surprised her hairstyle caused such a stir, she now gets it. “Hair says so much about how we want to express ourselves,” she shared in a chat with The Times . “My fringe has good vibes.” That it does! 

She’s real-life BFF’s with Normal People co-star Paul Mescal

Sorry to disappoint any Normal People fans, but the sizzling chemistry between Daisy and on-screen love interest Paul Mescal was for the cameras only. The pair have, however, remained great mates since filming for the series wrapped in 2019. And Daisy only has good things to say about her former co-star. 

Discussing their bond on the How to Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast she explained: “Mine and Paul’s relationship is the polar opposite to Marianne and Connell’s – we’re very silly together. You know, Paul had never done TV before and I’d never played a lead, so for us both it ( Normal People ) was a big first experience. Our friendship is a wonderful thing and something I’ll really treasure forever – I feel so lucky to have met Paul.” Ahh, how cute is that?

She loves a spot of reality TV

Daisy’s idea of a perfect night in consists of binge-watching episodes of Made in Chelsea while eating chocolate. The reality series follows the lives and loves of a group of affluent young people who live in one of London’s most exclusive postcodes, and Daisy’s been a fan since it launched back in 2011. 

Describing MIC as her guilty pleasure, the actress unashamedly declares it’s the best thing ever, and has no plans to stop watching it. Daisy’s love of reality TV was no doubt sparked by her dad, Phillip, who worked as the creative director on Big Brother for a decade, and would often take her into the studio with him.

The way to her heart is with freezer food

Daisy is currently single, having called time on her two-year romance with actor Tom Varey in late 2021. But listen up, fellas, because there’s a no-frills way to woo this gorgeous lady. 

When asked by the Irish Mirror what the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for her, Daisy replied: “It’s very random, but it would probably be when I moved into the apartment I stayed in when I filmed Normal People . My boyfriend came and helped me move in and when I went out for a costume fitting he brought me a load of frozen food from Tesco and filled the freezer with things like potato waffles. It doesn’t seem that romantic, but genuinely that is what I lived on for the whole four and a half months of filming. Every time I ate a potato waffle I thought of him!”

She'd love to produce music videos

Daisy’s career is going from strength to strength but, as well as fulfilling her acting ambitions, Daisy has aspirations of going down a more musical route. “If I wasn’t an actress I think I would maybe be someone who directs music videos,” she confessed to Harper’s Bazaar . 

“I love listening to music and imagining a scenario, so I would one day like to direct a video. I think it’s quite a skill.” Oh and in case you want to know, Daisy’s top three favourite songs are – "Strawberry Swing" by Coldplay, "Never Too Much" by Luther Vandross (that’s her dance song!) and "I Wanna Be Adored" by The Stone Roses.

She loves being on location

Filming for Daisy’s latest film, the highly-anticipated Where the Crawdads Sing took place in Louisiana over a period of four months, and Daisy relished experiencing new surroundings. “I’d never seen an environment like it,” she admitted to Harper’s Bazaar .

“I’d never been to a swamp, seen nature like that, or cockroaches before. It was an amazing place.” It wasn’t all work, work, work though, as Daisy got to experience the nightlife in New Orleans, dancing on Bourbon Street and sampling their gigantic tequila shots. “My friends and I also hired kayaks and took a trip down the Bayou – there were alligators sleeping on the banks, it was pretty incredible.” Sounds a little scary if you ask us!

Daisy Edgar-Jones fact file

Frequently asked questions about the actress…

How old is Daisy Edgar-Jones?

Daisy Edgar-Jones is 23, she was born on 24th May 1998.

Is Daisy Edgar-Jones married?

Daisy Edgar-Jones is not married.

Does Daisy Edgar-Jones have any children?

Daisy Edgar-Jones doesn’t have any children. 

Where was Daisy Edgar-Jones born?

Daisy Edgar-Jones was born in Islington, North London.

How tall is Daisy Edgar-Jones?

Daisy is 5 foot 7.

Instagram:  @daisyedgarjones

Twitter: @DaisyEdgarJones

We work hard to ensure that all information is correct. Facts that change over time, such as age, will be correct, to the best of our knowledge, at the time of the last article update.

Laura has been a journalist for over a decade, writing about soaps, TV entertainment, fashion, beauty, and food. After graduating from university, she started her career working at a national soap and TV magazine. During her seven-year stint there she joined the cast of Emmerdale for a tour around the famous village, partied with soap stars at awards bashes, interviewed her acting idol David Suchet, and sat in the front row of Strictly Come Dancing . 

Her heart lies with the soaps, and her all-time favourite character has to be EastEnders ' Pat Butcher - no one rocked a big earring quite like her. She's also a huge fan of detective crime dramas, particularly old school Inspector Morse, Endeavour, and adaptations of Agatha Christie's Marple and Poirot. When she's not writing, she loves a spot of second-hand shopping and going on adventures with her young son.

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‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ Review: The Bestselling Novel Turned Into a Compelling Wild-Child Tale

Daisy Edgar-Jones plays Kya, the venerable Marsh Girl, in a mystery as dark as it is romantic.

By Owen Gleiberman

Owen Gleiberman

Chief Film Critic

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Sometimes a movie will turn softer than you thought it would — more sunny and upbeat and romantic, with a happier ending. Then there’s the kind of movie that turns darker than you expect, with an ominous undertow and an ending that kicks you in the shins. “ Where the Crawdads Sing ” is the rare movie that conforms to both those dynamics at once.

Adapted from Delia Owens ’ debut novel, which has sold 12 million copies since it was published in 2018, the movie is about a young woman whose identity is mired in physical and spiritual harshness. Kya Clark ( Daisy Edgar-Jones ) has grown up all by herself in a shack on a marshy bayou outside Barkley Cove, N.C. When we meet her, it’s 1969 and she’s being put on trial for murder. A young man who Kya was involved with has fallen to his death from a six-story fire tower. Was foul play involved? If so, was Kya the culprit? The local law enforcers don’t seem too interested in evidence. They’ve targeted Kya, who is known by the locals as Marsh Girl. For most of her life, she has been a scary local legend — the scandalous wild child, the wolf girl, the uncivilized outsider. Now, perhaps, she’s become a scapegoat.

The film then flashes back to 1953, when Kya is about 10 (and played by the feisty Jojo Regina), and her life unfolds as the redneck version of a Dickensian nightmare, with a father (Garret Dillahunt) who’s a violent abuser, a mother (Ahna O’Reilly) who abandons her, and a brother who soon follows. Kya is left with Pa, who retains his cruel ways (when a letter arrives from her mother, he burns it right in front of her), though he eases up on the beatings. Barefoot and undernourished, she tries to go to school and lasts one day; the taunting of the other kids sends her packing. Pa himself soon ditches Kya, leaving the girl to raise herself in that marshland shack.

All very dark. Yet with these stark currents in place, “Where the Crawdads Sing” segues into episodes with Kya as a teenager and young woman, and for a while the film seems to turn into a kind of badlands YA reverie. Kya may have a past filled with torment, but on her own she’s free — to do what she likes, to find innovative ways to survive (she digs up mussels at dawn and sells them to the Black proprietors of a local general store, played by Michael Hyatt and Sterling Macer Jr., who become her caretakers in town), and to chart her own destiny.

You’d expect someone known as Marsh Girl to have a few rough edges. Remember Jodie Foster’s feral backwoods ragamuffin in “Nell”? (She, too, was from North Carolina.) Yet Kya, for a wild child, is pretty refined, with thick flowy hair parted in the middle, a wardrobe of billowy rustic dresses, and a way of speaking that makes her sound like she grew up as the daughter of a couple of English teachers. (Unlike just about everyone else in the movie, she lacks even a hint of a drawl.) She does watercolor drawings of the seashells in the marshland, and her gift for making art is singular. She’s like Huck Finn meets Pippi Longstocking by way of Alanis Morissette.

The English actor Daisy Edgar-Jones, who has mostly worked on television (“Normal People,” “War of the Worlds”), has a doleful, earnest-eyed sensuality reminiscent of the quality that Alana Haim brought to “Licorice Pizza.” She gives Kya a quiet surface but makes her wily and vibrantly poised — which isn’t necessarily wrong , but it cuts against (and maybe reveals) our own prejudices, putting the audience in the position of thinking that someone known as Marsh Girl might not come off as quite this self-possessed. Kya meets a local boy, Tate Walker (Taylor John Smith), who has the look of a preppie dreamboat and teaches her, out of the goodness of his heart, to read and write. It looks like the two are falling in love, at least until it’s time for him to go off to college in Raleigh. Despite his protestations of devotion, Kya knows that he’s not coming back.

You could say that “Where the Crawdads Sing” starts out stormy and threatening, then turns romantic and effusive, then turns foreboding again. Yet that wouldn’t express the way the film’s light and dark tones work together. The movie, written by Lucy Alibar (“Beasts of the Southern Wild”) and directed by Olivia Newman with a confidence and visual vivacity that carry you along (the lusciously crisp cinematography is by Polly Morgan), turns out to be a myth of resilience. It’s Kya’s story, and in her furtive way she keeps undermining the audience’s perceptions about her.

The scenes of Kya’s murder trial are fascinating, because they’re not staged with the usual courtroom-movie cleverness. Kya is defended by Tim Milton ( David Strathairn ), who knew her as a girl and has come out of retirement to see justice done. In his linen suits, with his Southern-gentleman logic, he demolishes one witness after another, but mostly because there isn’t much of a case against Kya. The fellow she’s accused of killing, Chase Andrews (Harris Dickinson), is the one she took up with after Tate abandoned her, and he’s a sketchier shade of preppie player, with a brusque manner that is less than trustworthy. He keeps her separate from his classy friends in town (at one point we learn why), and his scoundrel tendencies just mount from there. Did she have a motive for foul play?

“Where the Crawdads Sing” is at once a mystery, a romance, a back-to-nature reverie full of gnarled trees and hanging moss, and a parable of women’s power and independence in a world crushed under by masculine will. The movie has a lot of elements that will remind you of other films, like “The Man in the Moon,” the 1991 drama starring Reese Witherspoon (who is one of the producers here). But they combine in an original way. The ending is a genuine jaw-dropper, and while I wouldn’t go near revealing it, I’ll just say that this is a movie about fighting back against male intransigence that has the courage of its outsider spirit.

Reviewed at Museum of Modern Art, July 11, 2022. MPA Rating: PG-13. Running time: 125 MIN.

• Production: A Sony Pictures Releasing release of a 3000 Pictures production. Producers: Reese Witherspoon, Lauren Neustadter. Executive producers: Rhonda Fehr, Betsy Danbury.
• Crew: Director: Olivia Newman. Screenplay: Lucy Alibar. Camera: Polly Morgan. Editor: Alan Edward Bell. Music: Mychael Danna.
• With: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Taylor John Smith, Harris Dickinson, Michael Hyatt, Sterling Macer Jr., David Strathairn, Jayson Warner Smith, Garret Dillahunt, Ahna O’Reilly, Eric Ladin.

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In 2020, Daisy went back to hear theatre roots and starred in the February 2020 revival of Albion at the Almeida Theatre, which was recorded and later broadcast by the BBC that August. Daisy portrayed Zara, and the cast included Nigel Betts, Edyta Budnik, Wil Coban, Angel Coulby, Dónal Finn, Geoffrey Freshwater, Victoria Hamilton, Margot Leicester, Nicholas Rowe and Helen Schlesinger.

Next up for Daisy is Dustin Lance Black’s true crime miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven , an adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s book of the same name, and the film adaption of Delia Owen’s Where the Crawdads Sing.

Mar 26, 2022 | Charles Finch & Chanel pre-Oscars dinner

Apr 18, 2022 | Late Late Show With James Corden

Apr 20, 2022 | Under the Banner of Heaven Premiere Event

Apr 28, 2022 | ‘The View’ together with Andrew Garfield

Apr 28, 2022 | ‘Today Show’ together with Andrew Garfield

Apr 28, 2022 | Under the Banner of Heaven Release

May 1, 2022 | The Sunday Times Style Magazine Release

Jul 15, 2022 | Where The Crawdads Sing hits Cinemas

Daisy as: Kya Director:  Olivia Newman

A woman who raised herself in the marshes of the deep South becomes a suspect in the murder of a man she was once involved with. Based on the Critically-acclaimed book with the same name. IMDB   Information   Official   Photos   News

Daisy as:  Brenda Created by:  Dustin Lance Black

As Detective Jeb Pyre investigates the murder of Brenda Wright Lafferty and her baby daughter in a suburb in the Salt Lake Valley, he uncovers buried truths about the origins of the LDS religion and the violent consequences of unyielding faith. IMDB   Information   Official   Pictures   News

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Daisy Edgar-Jones Biography

• At the age of 5, she made her debut as an actress performing in a school play
• Was encouraged by her parents to follow a career in the entertainment industry, as they both work in the media
• At the age of 14, she enrolled in the National Youth Theatre in the United Kingdom
• Is skilled at playing guitar
• Is skilled at swimming

Relationships

• Tom Varey -- Ex-significant Other
• Philip Edgar-Jones -- Father
• Wendy Edgar-Jones -- Mother

British actor Daisy  Edgar-Jones  trained at the National Youth Theatre before landing her first role at the age of 17 as a series regular in the British Comedy-Drama  COLD FEET  alongside James Nesbitt for ITV.  

Recently, Daisy has been cast alongside Jacob Elordi and Will Poulter for a lead role in a sweeping drama based on Shannon Pufahl’s acclaimed 2019 novel, ON SWIFT HORSES. Furthermore, in 2024, Daisy will be a lead in the highly anticipated updated version of the 1996 film TWISTERS.  

Most  notably , Daisy was seen playing the lead role of Marianne in the adaptation of the Sally Rooney novel  NORMAL PEOPLE  (2020)   alongside Paul Mescal, which was directed by Lenny Abrahamson. The series was met with critical acclaim as was Daisy’s performance, which earned her IMDb’s Breakthrough STARMeter Award, a Madame Figaro Rising Star Award, a Rose d’Or Emerging Talent Award – making Daisy the first-ever winner of this award – as well as being named as one of Screen International’s ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ for 2020, Associated Press Breakthrough Entertainer for 2020 and being picked by The Hollywood Reporter for their Next Gen 2020 list. Daisy also earned a Critics Choice, Golden Globe and BAFTA TV nomination.  

  Daisy had her  feature film debut  in  FRESH (2022), directed by Mimi Cave. The social thriller will portray the discomfort and fear women face daily as their bodies are commodified by society, in a raucous comedy. The film premiered at Sundance Film Festival  and is available to stream on Hulu in the US and Disney + in the UK.  

In July  2022 Daisy starred in the film adaption of Delia Owens’ novel  WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING , as the titular role of Kya. The film is written by Lucy Alibar, directed by Olivia Newman and produced by Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter’s Hello Sunshine. The film was a box office success, grossing over $140 million worldwide on a $24 million budget.  

Daisy  can also be seen in her  leading role in the limited series  UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN (FX/Hulu) , which premiered in the US in the summer of 2022,  opposite Andrew Garfield. The series hails from write r  Dustin Lance Black and is based on the Jon Krakauer novel of the same name. In the series, a devout detective’s faith is tested as he investigates a brutal murder that seems to be connected to an esteemed Utah family’s spiral into LDS fundamentalism and their distrust in the government. Daisy was then nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in this limited series.    

I n February of 2020 Daisy appeared as Zara in Mike Barlett’s  ALBION , at the Almeida Theatre. The play returned following a sell-out run in 2017 and was later dubbed The Telegraph ’s  ”Play of the Year”.  In 2019,  she shot an independent coming-of-age feature film  POND LIFE  which was directed by Bill Buckhurst and produced by Open Palm Films.  

Daisy’s further TV credits include  SILENT WITNESS  (BBC),  OUTNUMBERED : Christmas Special (BBC), and GENTLEMAN JACK  (HBO/BBC).  In 2019 , Daisy was seen in  WAR OF THE WORLDS  (CANAL PLUS) opposite Gabriel Byrne and Elizabeth McGovern  with  the  highly anticipated   second season released in 2021, and the third season released in 2022.  

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Awards and Nominations

• ‘Twisters’ Trailer: Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones Chase Massive Tornadoes in Disaster Film’s Sequel Variety February 12, 2024
• Sydney Sweeney and Vanessa Kirby Join New Ron Howard Movie ComicBook.com October 31, 2023
• Daryl McCormack to star in Twister sequel RTE.ie May 22, 2023
• Irish star Daryl McCormack cast in one of 2024's biggest blockbusters JOE.ie May 17, 2023
• ‘Bad Sisters,’ ‘Leo Grande’ Actor Daryl McCormack to Feature Alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones in ‘Twisters’ (EXCLUSIVE) Variety May 17, 2023
• Filmography
• Screenshots

Videos Stills Posters Filming Promo Screenshots Fan Art

Filmography chart

• Mystery 16%
• Romance 12%
• Thriller 12%

Actress — 16

Biography, Drama, Romance United States • Sebastián Lelio

• Friends : —
• Kinorium : —
• IMDb : —
• Critics: —

Musical, Drama, Biography United States • Lisa Cholodenko

Drama United States • Daniel Minahan

Action, Adventure, Thriller United States • Lee Isaac Chung

• Expectation : 99%

Drama, Romance, Thriller, 2 hr 5 min United States • Olivia Newman

• Kinorium : 6.9
• Critics: 35%

Crime, Drama, Mystery, 1 hr 7 min United States • Courtney Hunt...

• Kinorium : 6.6
• Critics: 86%

Thriller, Horror, Comedy, 1 hr 54 min United States • Mimi Cave

• Kinorium : 6.3
• Critics: 81%

Drama, Comedy, 2 hr 48 min United Kingdom • Rupert Goold...

Drama, Romance, 30 min Ireland, United Kingdom, United States • Lenny Abrahamson...

• Kinorium : 7.4
• Critics: 91%

Short, Comedy, 3 min Ireland • Lenny Abrahamson

Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery, 45 min France, United Kingdom, United States • Richard Clark...

• Kinorium : 5.8

Biography, Drama, History, 1 hour United Kingdom, United States • Sally Wainwright...

• Kinorium : 7.1
• Critics: 92%

Drama, 1 hr 40 min United Kingdom • Bill Buckhurst

• Critics: 71%

Comedy, Drama, 30 min United Kingdom • Andy Hamilton...

• Kinorium : 5.6

Comedy, Drama, Romance, 45 min United Kingdom • Terry McDonough...

Crime, Drama, Mystery, 43 min United Kingdom • Thaddeus O'Sullivan...

• Kinorium : 6.4

Other — 21

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10 Things You Didn’t Know about Daisy Edgar-Jones

Most 21-year-old actresses are still struggling to find their place in the industry. But it looks like Daisy Edgar-Jones has already found hers, and she’s claiming it. Within the last year, Edhar-Jones has been cast in two main roles. Her most recent, as Marianne in the new show, Normal People , could be the one that changes her career forever. The show, which is based on the book of the same name by Sally Rooney, tells the story of Marianne and Connell, two teenagers whose complicated relationship turns romantic. In her portrayal of Marianne, Daisy gets to show off the wide range of her acting talent, and it’s hard to believe she’s only been in the business for four years. Keep reading for 10 things you didn’t know about Daisy Edgar-Jones.

1. She Is A Big Fan Of The Book

Being cast as Marianne was a dream come true for several reasons. Not only was it a great opportunity for Daisy’s work to reach a wider audience, but it was also a chance to play a character she already loved and knew. When asked how she felt about landing the role, Daisy told In Style, “I was a massive fan of the book as well. I wanted it with every possible cell in my body.”

2. She Was Nervous About The Sex Scenes

Being naked in front of someone you know can be awkward, never mind being naked in front of an entire crew of people you don’t know in a room full of camera. Daisy says that nothing could have prepared her for the sex scenes in the show, but she quickly began to feel comfortable thanks to the supportive cast and crew.

3. Her First Celebrity Crush Was A Book Character

Can you remember your first celebrity crush? Daisy can certainly remember hers. She said her first famous crush was actor Logan Lerman who played Percy Jackson in the film adaption of the book series. Daisy was also a fan of the books.

4. She Has 3 Favorite Movies

Picking just one favorite is never an easy thing to do, but Daisy has been able to at least narrow it down to three. When asked about the movies she’d pick to watch for the rest of her life, this is what Daisy had to say, “ Blue Valentine , Romeo + Juliet , the Baz Luhrmann one. I love that film. And oh, there’s a great film called Sightseers , which is like a small British indie, which I watched a while ago. I just think it’s brilliant. It’s like a dark comedy about this couple that goes on a caravan holiday. It’s great. So yeah, probably that.”

5. She Likes To Cook

Daisy isn’t a fan of complicated recipes, but she does like to cook and she likes learning new things to make. She recently bought a new roasting pan and has been having fun trying different things. So far, her five spice pork is at the top of the list.

6. She Wants People To Know One Thing About Her

When you work in entertainment, it can be easy for people to get a false idea of who you are. Whether it be good or bad, people are always going to have something to say and it’s not always possible to control the narrative. Daisy Edgar-Jones says if there’s one thing she wants people to know about her, it’s that she’s a nice person.

7. Her Boyfriend Is An Actor

Now that Daisy’s star is rising, lots of people are curious about her relationship status. For those wondering, Daisy is in a committed relationship with Tom Varey. He is also an actor and appeared in an episode of Game of Thrones in 2016.

8. Her Parents Also Work In The Industry

Daisy isn’t the first person in her family to embark on a career in entertainment. Both of her parents work in the business as well. Her mom is a film and TV editor and her father is the head of Sky Arts, a channel that focuses on broadcasting musicals and plays.

9. Her Favorite Book Is By Patti Smith

Daisy loves to read in her free time and says that one of her favorite books is Just Kids by Patti Smith. She says she loves the honest description of Patti’s life in New York during her 20s. Ironically, her co-star an on screen love interest, Paul Mescal is also reading this book during quarantine.

10. Her Parents Were The First People She Told About The Role

When Daisy found out she got the role as Marianne, she was so excited she couldn’t contain herself. There was only one problem, she was home alone and had no one to tell. She immediately called her parents and shared the exciting news with them.

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Camille Moore

Camille has a master's degree from Saint Joseph University's Writing Studies program, and she currently works as the Writing Center Assistant Director at a small university in western Pennsylvania. Camille's writing has been published on several websites, and she enjoys writing articles and short stories in her spare time. You can follow Camille on Twitter @CamealAshley.

Daisy Edgar-Jones Age, Boyfriend, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Daisy Edgar-Jones

• Does Daisy Edgar-Jones smoke?: Not Known

Daisy Edgar-Jones drinks alcohol

Daisy Edgar-Jones as a child in the lap of her Mother

• In childhood, Daisy used to participate in School plays.
• Daisy has also worked in other TV series such as War of the Worlds, Gentleman Jack, Outnumbered: Christmas Special, Silent Witness Series 20, etc.
• In 2019, she was roped in for an Indian Film ‘ RRR ‘ directed by S. S. Rajamouli  along with Alia Bhatt opposite  N. T. Rama Rao Jr. and  Ram Charan .

Paul Mescal

IMDbPro Starmeter Top 500 134

• Contact info
• 19 wins & 59 nominations total

• 2020 • 12 eps
• Post-production
• In Production
• William Shakespeare
• Pre-production
• Franklin Shepard

• Brian O'Hara

• Sean McKeogh

• 12 episodes

• performer: "That Frank", "Old Friends" (Part 2), "Growing Up", "It's a Hit", "Bobby and Jackie and Jack", "Not a Day Goes By" (Reprise), "Opening Doors", "Our Time"
• performer: "Slip Away", "Lullaby / Beyond - Vive la Musique"
• In-development projects at IMDbPro

Personal details

• 5′ 11″ (1.80 m)
• February 2 , 1996
• Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland
• Parents Dearblha Mescal
• Relatives Nell Mescal (Sibling)
• Other works Play: "Miss Saigon", by Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil, and Richard Maltby Jr. Dir. David Hennessy. Theatre Royal, Waterford, Ireland.

Did you know

• Trivia Like his Normal People (2020) character Connell Waldron, he attended Trinity College Dublin.
• Quotes [filming sex scenes] The idea of shooting those scenes may be far more anxious than the actual shooting process from day to day. There's an awkward 10 minutes when you're like, okay, I have to be relatively naked in front of a group of strangers... from an actor's perspective you've got to treat that the same way you would a scene where you're speaking to each other.
• How old is Paul Mescal?
• When was Paul Mescal born?
• Where was Paul Mescal born?

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