With a total of four Emmy nominations for 'Normal People', it seems that the British media have once again run away with themselves by claiming our homegrown talent as British.
The Paul Mescal Emmy nomination hasn't come without its slight controversy, unfortunately, as a couple of British newspapers jumped at the chance of branding the Kildare actor as one of their own.
Following the nominations reveal, London-based newspaper The Guardian claimed Mescal as "British talent". Andrew Scott from 'Fleabag' was also lumped up into the fold, which you can see a screenshot of below. The Day Mail also published Mescal as being British.
Hey @guardian you do realise Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott are Irish?? This is getting beyond annoying or funny now, the constant claiming of Irish people as British. pic.twitter.com/OPAL9FVZ8Y
— Tweetledumber (@Tweetledumber1) July 28, 2020
Ye big fucking English colonising bollockses. Leave us have Paul Mescal will ye? https://t.co/FOYkuL7faN
— The Blindboy Podcast (@Rubberbandits) July 29, 2020
The Guardian has now remedied their mistake to read "British and Irish talent".
Mescal has been nominated in the category of Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, and is up against some Hollywood heavy-hitters in Jeremy Irons from 'Watchmen', Hugh Jackman from 'Bad Education', Mark Ruffalo in 'I Know This Much is True', and Jeremy Pope in Netflix's 'Hollywood'.
He tweeted his own reaction to the news, as he watched the live stream unfold: "My actual face right now! Thank you to absolutely everyone at Element Pictures, Hulu and BBC Three! Lenny Abrahamson I will never be able to thank you enough! Daisy Edgar Jones this only exists because of you and your extraordinary talent it’s as simple as that! Thank you all x"
My actual face right now! Thank you to absolutely everyone at @ElementPictures,@hulu and @bbcthree! @lennyabrahamson I will never be able to thank you enough ❤️! @DaisyEdgarJones this only exists because of you and your extraordinary talent it’s as simple as that! Thank you all x pic.twitter.com/s3t6hqr0SW
— Paul Mescal (@mescal_paul) July 28, 2020
Fans rallied around the actor, sharing their joy at his Emmy 2020 nomination. Many believed that although Mescal being nominated is a triumph, they wished that his co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones had also been nominated for her role as Marianne in the series.
Yeah, that was pretty much my face watching it too ? But congrats to you!!!! So well-deserved. ??
And Daisy, we know that Marianne was only done justice because of your fierce bravery and talent as an actor. It was a gift as a viewer to watch your performance ❤️
— call me v ?? (@senoritav76) July 28, 2020
paul mescal gave one of the best breakout performances i've seen from an actor in a long time. normal people is only his second acting credit but it's just a testament to how good he is because he's just that good pic.twitter.com/udCLEKNhf1
— david (@Ioversdiscourse) July 28, 2020
Congratulations and well said @mescal_paul. The nominations are a reflection of how powerful yours and @DaisyEdgarJones performance are and the impact #NormalPeople had on everyone.
— Jennifer Flynn (@007J_Flynn) July 28, 2020
Well done Paul ? well deserved your have an amazing future we love you & @DaisyEdgarJones you really don’t realise the affect you have had on so many people you are a beautiful amazing talent & we all know you are going to be one of the worlds best actresses go for it girl ? x pic.twitter.com/y8sqydHRJT
— karen_missyh (@Missyh15) July 28, 2020
the u.k. papers saying paul mescal and andrew scott are british pic.twitter.com/MYekAoLrst
— fund the arts (@paraselenew0man) July 28, 2020
Congrats Paul, so deserved!❤️ Don’t get why Daisy wasn’t nominated as well since both of you did such remarkable performances! You both brought these two characters in such a beautiful and electrifying way to the screen!✨
— Sofie? (@sofanstille) July 28, 2020
You deserve that Emmy! pic.twitter.com/ofw5GjBpR3
— rene (@rene_schz) July 28, 2020
Vulture caught up with Mescal after he received his nomination, where he told the publication how he felt of the whole situation, and on speaking to Edgar Jones: "A bit like … fuzzy. It’s really hard to describe — tired, excited, out of breath. [...] I can’t speak highly enough of the work she did on the show. I know there are extraordinary actresses nominated in that category, but I think Daisy’s work is just phenomenal in this."
Dublin actor Andrew Scott received a nod for his role in 'Black Mirror', while Cork actress Fiona Shaw has also been nominated for her supporting role in 'Killing Eve'.
We'll have to wait and see if the Paul Mescal Emmy nomination comes to fruition when Jimmy Kimmel hosts the awards this September 20.
