Normal People stars back Sally Rooney in open letter

Updated / Wednesday, 21 Oct 2026 16:07

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Normal People stars Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones have signed an open letter supporting Irish author Sally Rooney after her publisher stopped supplying her books in the UK.

The actors, who played Connell and Marianne in the television adaptation of Rooney's bestselling novel, are joined by the show’s director Lenny Abrahamson and Conversations with Friends star Alison Oliver.

The letter, published in the New Statesman on Wednesday, declares: "Sally Rooney is a writer, not a terrorist. Her books must be available to the public."

It criticises the UK legislation that has led to the decision to stop supplying Rooney’s books, describing it as an affront to freedom of expression.

The signatories call on the UK government to amend the legislation, rejecting what they describe as "direct or indirect" censorship.

Other Irish figures to sign the letter include Jessie Buckley and Sharon Horgan, CMAT, Kneecap and writers Marian Keyes, Colm Tóibín, Anne Enright, Colum McCann and Anna Burns.

International supporters include Tilda Swinton and Susan Sarandon, authors Zadie Smith and Arundhati Roy, and Nobel literature laureates Anne Carson, Annie Ernaux and JM Coetzee.

The letter follows an announcement last week by Rooney’s publisher, Faber, that it would no longer supply her books in the UK because of her support for Palestine Action.

Rooney has previously said she intends to use earnings from her books and television adaptations to support the group.

Faber said UK legislation meant it could no longer pass on earnings from British sales to Rooney, describing the prospect of selling an author’s work without paying them as "unconscionable".

The publisher said the decision to stop supplying her books was made with Rooney’s full agreement.

Her books have not been formally banned in the UK, and retailers can continue selling existing stock, although they cannot order new copies from Faber.

Rooney’s books remain available in Ireland and other international markets.

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