Normal People stars Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones have joined a growing group of actors, writers and artists defending Irish novelist Sally Rooney, whose books have been withdrawn from distribution in the United Kingdom following a dispute involving British anti-terrorism laws.
The actors signed an open letter published by the New Statesman on October 21, 2026, urging the U.K. government to address the legislation that has effectively prevented Rooney’s publisher from supplying her books to British retailers.
The letter begins with a powerful statement:
“Sally Rooney is a writer, not a terrorist. Her books must be available to the public.”
Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones Join Open Letter
Mescal and Edgar-Jones, who portrayed Connell Waldron and Marianne Sheridan in the acclaimed 2020 television adaptation of Rooney’s Normal People, are among several entertainment figures supporting the author.
The letter also carries signatures from Normal People director Lenny Abrahamson, Hamnet actress Jessie Buckley, Tilda Swinton, Susan Sarandon and filmmaker Jonathan Glazer.
Prominent literary figures, including Zadie Smith, Arundhati Roy and Nobel Prize winners Annie Ernaux and J.M. Coetzee, have also joined the campaign.
The signatories argue that the withdrawal threatens freedom of expression and are calling for changes to the legislation responsible.
Their intervention highlights how a publishing dispute has developed into a wider debate about artistic freedom and political expression.
Why Were Sally Rooney’s Books Withdrawn in the U.K.?
The controversy stems from Rooney’s public support for Palestine Action, a pro-Palestinian direct-action organization that the British government designated a terrorist organization in July 2025.
Rooney previously stated that she intended to continue supporting the group financially, including through proceeds from her writing.
On October 14, her publisher, Faber, announced that British legislation had created circumstances in which it could no longer transfer U.K. earnings to the author.
With Rooney’s agreement, Faber therefore stopped supplying her books in Britain.
Importantly, the British government has not directly banned Rooney’s novels. Existing copies may still be sold, but retailers cannot obtain new stock through Faber.
The publisher continues distributing her work internationally.
British authorities have defended Palestine Action’s proscription, while civil liberties campaigners have challenged its implications for lawful expression and protest.
What Happens Next for Sally Rooney’s Books?
Rooney’s novels include Conversations With Friends, Normal People, Beautiful World, Where Are You and Intermezzo.
Her first two books were adapted into television dramas, introducing her writing to an international audience.
The legal dispute surrounding Palestine Action’s designation remains unresolved, with further Supreme Court proceedings expected.
For Mescal and Edgar-Jones, the open letter marks a public show of solidarity with the writer whose work helped launch their international careers.
Whether the campaign leads to legislative changes remains uncertain, but the controversy has placed Rooney’s publishing future in Britain under renewed scrutiny.
