Sally Rooney’s debut novel, Conversations with Friends is getting the Normal People treatment as it becomes the next television adaptation from the author. Much like its predecessor the new series, which airs on BBC Three, also follows the romantic entanglements of two young Irish lovers, Frances and Bobbi.
The synopsis for the new series reads: “Though they broke up three years ago, Frances and Bobbi are virtually inseparable and perform spoken-word poetry together in Dublin. It’s at one of their shows that they meet Melissa, an older writer, who is fascinated by the pair.
Bobbi and Frances start to spend time with Melissa and her husband, Nick, a handsome but reserved actor. While Melissa and Bobbi flirt with each other openly, Nick and Frances embark on an intense, secret affair that is surprising to them both. Soon the affair begins to test the bond between Frances and Bobbi, forcing Frances to reconsider her sense of self, and the friendship she holds so dear.”
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We’ve no doubt that you will recognise some of the people on this list. There is a large ensemble cast set to appear in the show. Here is who stars in BBC Three’s new 12-part series, Conversations with Friends. Here’s more information on how to watch Conversations With Friends and whether it’s related to Normal People.
Who’s in the cast?
Alison Oliver – Frances
(Image: PA)
British actress, Alison Oliver stars as Frances in one of her first leading roles. She has previously featured in Fame Dogs, Woggie, and Home Brewed.
Talking to the BBC about her casting, she said: “When I read the book I just completely fell in love with it straight away and all the characters in it.” Alison describes Frances as a “very cerebral and observant young woman who has a very dry humour” and has said that she worked primarily from the book to prepare for the role.
Will Alison achieve the same level of success as Normal People stars, Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones?
Sasha Lane – Bobbi
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Sasha Lane, who plays Bobbi, is no stranger to TV work, having appeared in Utopia (2020). She also starred in the BAFTA-nominated movie, American Honey, the 2019 reboot of Hellboy and has even featured in music videos for Alicia Keys and Lewis Capaldi.
Sasha described how she wanted to take on the role because she’s very “into people and their psychology”. She also said that she used her past relationships as inspiration for her character.
Jemima Kirke – Melissa
(Image: Getty Images)
Melissa is played by Jemima Kirke, who recently appeared in the third series of Sex Education but most people will know her as Jessa in American series, Girls.
Speaking about the story, Jemima told the BBC: “I think Sally Rooney describes anxiety very well. She creates this visceral experience of anxiety, awkwardness, confusion and shame. It’s a very internal world that she’s creating and it’s quite fun to try and express what’s reality and what’s her perception.” Jemma has said that she feels the script for the new series “honours the novel”.
Joe Alwyn – Nick
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British actor Joe Alwyn stars as Nick and his claim to fame is that he is ‘Mr Taylor Swift’. The actor even co-wrote some of her songs including, August and Betty from her eighth studio album.
A jack-of-all-trades, Joe has had roles in Oscar-nominated film, The Favourite starring Olivia Colman and The Last Letter From Your Lover.
Joe said: “I loved it, I just tore through it. Sally is such a brilliant writer, she’s so sharp and observant and often funny at times, but also moving.”
Elsewhere in the cast, there is Derry Girls’ Tommy Tiernan – Dennis. Tommy is a legendary Irish comic who has his own show on RTE and you’ll have seen him in Father Ted, of course.
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Caoimhe Coburn Gray – Aideen
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Kerry Fox – Valerie
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Sally Garnett – Evelyn
(Image: BBC)
Catch Conversations with Friends on Sunday, May 15 on BBC Three at 10pm
