The BBC3/Hulu 12-part adaptation of Sally Rooney’s debut novel Conversations with Friends (2018) comes hot on the heels of the success of Normal People (2020) – the author’s second work (2018).
Normal People surprised some with its graphic but sensitive depiction of sex but won over even older viewers (well my mum liked it) due to the finely drawn characters and convincing acting by the two leads, relative newcomers Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal.
Indeed, for Edgar-Jones, Normal People has provided a calling card with producers, leading to her being cast in comedy-thriller Fresh (2022, Disney+), true crime drama Under the Banner of Heaven (2022, FX) and upcoming adaptation of Where the Crawdads Sing.
Perhaps the same will prove true for newcomer Alison Oliver who plays main character Francis. Conversations with Friends continues the Dublin college setting of Normal People, this time exploring the romantic entanglements of two female students and the thirtysomething couple they befriend. In addition to Oliver, it stars Joe Alwyn (The Favourite) and Jemima Kirke (Girls).
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