Irish actor Paul Mescal has won a top Bafta award for his role in the hit Irish television series Normal People.

The Kildare native (25) won the Leading Actor gong for the series based on the bestselling novel by Irish writer Sally Rooney.

He accepted the award in person during a scaled-down ceremony at the BBC Television Centre in London.

He paid tribute to Element Pictures, the Irish production company behind the hit series as well as his co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones and Irish director Lenny Abrahamson.

“I know everyone always says that it’s great to be nominated with such extraordinary actors. But they really, really are. They are true leaders in the field,” he said.

He added that he was lucky to be able to continue working during the pandemic, stating: “It’s been pretty nuts. I am so lucky that I got to continue working to a certain capacity and this feels like a very nice way to tie it up in a bow.”

He was nominated alongside Josh O’Connor, who was up for the best actor gong for his performance as Prince Charles in The Crown, as well as John Boyega who was nominated for Small Axe.

Mescal, who played Connell Waldron in the adaptation of Rooney’s novel, revealed that he spent a week with the director and co-star ahead of filming.  

“I think it was more so kind of a chance for me and Daisy to meet, see each other.

“But we had done a chemistry read before it, so I think there was a kind of understanding that we would work together well and I could not have asked for a better partner for that show,” he said ahead of the award ceremony.

He also revealed in the question and answer session that he felt a real kinship with his character. “I identify with the situations he’s been in and I also see my friends in him,” he said.

“You know, I see people who I love and care about within the kind of capsule of him, so it was kind of totally I just recognised the kind of heart and soul of them very quickly.”

After the ceremony, he revealed how the hit show “totally changed my life and has given me an opportunity to continue doing the job that I love”.

“I think it struck a chord because it’s seeing two people that I feel people can relate to and seeing how they navigate life,” he said.

He told reporters how the series, which focuses on the on-off relationship between Irish teenagers Marianne and Connell, focuses on “the normal human in society and treats their joys and traumas and tribulations with utter respect”.

He added that he and Edgar-Jones are very close and he would love to do another series of Normal People and “would work with Daisy again in a heartbeat”, although there is nothing currently in the pipeline.

“Regardless of work or anything like that, I’m just excited to see her so we can see each other again. It will be great,” he said.

Mescal, who was a guest presenter for last year’s Bafta television awards ceremony, said it has been a “weird year”.

“It kind of feels full circle, having presented here last year to be in a room with people… at the forefront of television at the moment and it  was really quite special and emotional.” 

Other Irish nominees were not so lucky. Wolfwalkers from Cartoon Saloon did not win the animated Film Bafta award, which went to Pixar’s Soul, while Dublin actor Barry Keoghan  failed to win the Best Supporting Actor gong for Calm With Horses which went to Daniel Kaluuyafor this role in Judas and the Black Messiah.

Michaela Coel was named best actress at the ceremony, while sexual consent drama I May Destroy You was named best miniseries. Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer was also nominated for the best actress award.