Normal People Director Lenny Abrahamson has praised the “double act” that made the show an international hit.
The hit TV adaption was nominated for four Emmy awards yesterday.
Lead actor Paul Mescal was nominated alongside Mr Abrahamson, writers Sally Rooney and Alice Birch and casting director Louise Kiely.
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Mr Abrahamson said lead actress Daisy Edgar Jones deserves credit for the nominations.
“It is a double act,” he said. “It is an absolute double act and she is as much part of Paul’s performance as he is a part of hers. So, I think the nominations are for her also.”
He said it became clear during filming that “something special” was happening.
“We are there, we are making it and you could see particularly just the way Daisy and Paul were working together, all of that intensity and quality was very much evident.
“But there are so many things made. The environment for television is so cluttered with brilliant things and this is a relatively small show and it is quite low-key as well.
“So, we knew there was something lovely and good and unusual about the show but we really didn’t have any idea that it would cut through in the way it did.”
Daisy Edgar Jones in Normal People. Image: BBCAn adaption of the novel, written by Sally Rooney, Normal People has proved to be a huge success – with over 300,000 viewers in Ireland alone.
This year's Emmy Awards will take place in September.
HBO superhero show Watchmen leads the pack with 26 nominations, followed by The Marvellous Mrs Maisel with 20, and Ozark and Succession with 18 nominations each.
Paul Mescal in normal People. image: BBCMr Abrahamson said everyone involved in the show is “thrilled” with the recognition it has been given.
“We didn’t really know whether we would get any nominations at all so to get four was brilliant and it is just a lovely end to a great journey for the show,” he said.
“There are so many people involved and this is for everybody involved.”
You can listen back to the full interview here:
