Before Normal People made Daisy Edgar-Jones famous in 2020, her father gave her advice shaped by watching Big Brother turn unknown contestants into celebrities: hold on to who you were before everyone knew your name.
The 28-year-old actress recalled the conversation with her dad, British television executive and Big Brother co-creator Philip Edgar-Jones, while speaking with Jenna Bush Hager on the Open Book with Jenna podcast.
Daisy said he’d warned her that other people’s behavior toward her could shift even if she remained the same. Remembering who she’d been before fame would help keep her grounded. He also encouraged her to remember she’s “an individual amongst lots of people with all their own stuff going on and inner lives.”
His own reputation gave her another example to follow.
“Every time I meet anyone who’s worked with my dad, they always say he’s the nicest man in television, which is such a lovely legacy,” Daisy said. “And I’m really proud of him for that.”
She hopes the way she treats people will become part of her own legacy, too.
“I’m proud of him for so many things, but I suppose if I’ve learned from that, it would be nice if that could be my legacy in some way that when you interact with someone, you leave a nice taste in their mouth or a nice flavour,” she said. “That would be something I’m very proud of.”