Normal People - First Look
Connell (PAUL MESCAL) - (C) Element - Photographer: Enda Bowe

Irish TV drama Normal People receives 4 Emmy Award nominations

Following its global success, Normal People has received 4 Emmy nominations. Paul Mescal has been nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in A Limited Series, Lenny Abrahamson for Outstanding Directing For A Limited Series, Sally Rooney & Alice Birch for Outstanding Writing For A Limited Series and Louise Kiely for Outstanding Casting For A Limited Series.

Congratulations from all of us at Element to Paul, Lenny, Sally, Alice and Louise for their Emmy nominations. The response to the show internationally has exceeded our wildest dreams and this is an incredible honour for the show and for everyone who worked on it.

Andrew Lowe and Ed Guiney, Executive producers of Normal People and co-founders of Element Pictures

Produced by award-winning International production company Element Pictures, and adapted by Sally Rooney alongside writers Alice Birch and Mark O’Rowe, Normal People is a 12-part drama for BBC Three in partnership with Hulu, and tells an exquisite and compulsive modern love story about how two people can profoundly impact each other’s lives. The series also aired on RTE earlier this year.

Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones (War Of The Worlds, Cold Feet) as Marianne and Paul Mescal, in his first television role, as Connell, the series follows these two people navigating adulthood in contemporary Ireland, and their complicated relationship from the end of their school days in Sligo to their undergraduate years at Trinity College. It also stars Sarah Greene (Dublin Murders, Rosie) and Aislin McGuckin (Outlander).

Filming took place in Dublin, Sligo, Italy and Sweden with Oscar nominated director Lenny Abrahamson (Room, The Little Stranger, Frank) and award-winning director Hettie McDonald (Howard’s End). Normal People was produced in association with Screen Ireland/ Fis Eireann.

Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland has congratulated Paul Mescal, Lenny Abrahamson, Sally Rooney, Alice Birch and Louise Kiely on their Emmy nominations for Normal People announced today. They also congratulated Irish actor Andrew Scott, who has been recognised for his performance in Black Mirror in the Best Guest Actor category. 

Congratulations to Paul Mescal, Lenny Abrahamson, Sally Rooney, Alice Birch and Louise Kiely on their well-deserved Emmy nominations for their work on Normal People and to all of the team at Element Pictures. Normal People has been a global success story, captivating audiences around the world. 

The critical success of the show reminds us of the intrinsic value of Irish storytelling on screen. We are delighted to see Irish creative talent recognised and celebrated at the highest level on the international stage.  Screen Ireland’s is committed to further building and supporting the Irish television drama sector into the future.

We are also delighted to see Irish actor Andrew Scott receive a nomination for his role in Black Mirror in the Best Guest Actor in a Drama category. 

Dr. Annie Doona, Chair – Screen Ireland

Normal People is an Element Pictures production for Hulu and BBC Three, adapted from the award-winning novel by Sally Rooney. The series has been a record-breaking hit for both its UK and Irish broadcast, with over 2.5 million views on RTÉ and 38 million requests on BBC iPlayer in the UK, the most successful show for BBC Three to date. The series is funded under Screen Ireland’s first TV Drama Production fund, which aims to drive the expansion of the indigenous TV drama production sector in Ireland.

Normal People is available to download from iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Virgin Media and Sky Store. The series will be released on DVD later this year. Rights to the series have been purchased in territories on every corner of the globe.

The 72nd Emmy Awards will take place on September 20th 2020.