Jeremy Strong Stays True To Method Acting Amid Digs From Co-Stars Brian Cox And Kieran Culkin
Jeremy Strong, known for his Emmy-winning portrayal of Kendall Roy in Succession, is standing firm on his method acting approach, even as his co-stars Kieran Culkin and Brian Cox voice their disagreements.
In a January 7 interview with Deadline, Jeremy discussed his process while preparing for his role as Roy Cohn in The Apprentice, a new film about President-elect Donald Trump. The 46-year-old actor revealed he immerses himself deeply in his characters, drawing inspiration from acting legends like Ben Kingsley, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Daniel Day-Lewis. “…It’s about transcending impersonation and finding the essence in a deep, serious way,” he explained.
Jeremy acknowledged recent remarks from his Succession co-stars about his intense dedication. “Lately, people have felt a need to take shots at me or say disparaging things, which I don’t really think there’s any need for,” he said, adding, “The way I approach things, my process. I feel we’re storytellers. I think about those performances I just mentioned. Those are actors telling story through character, which to me is the highest bar. That’s the holy grail for me, creating a character, which is sort of creating an instrument that’s never existed before… That’s the kind of acting that I love. And it does require a kind of, I don’t know, devil may care attitude towards what anybody might think of what you’re doing.”
Brian, 78, previously criticized Jeremy’s immersive approach in a December 7 interview with The Guardian, stating it wasn’t always conducive to ensemble work. “He would be an even better actor if he just got rid of that, so there would be much more inclusiveness in what he did,” Brian said. “It’s not good for the ensemble. It creates hostility.”
However, he did praise Jeremy as “wonderful to act with” and “f—ing gifted.”
Kieran Culkin, who plays Jeremy’s on-screen brother Roman Roy, also weighed in during a December 17 Variety interview, revealing that he doesn’t support actors calling themselves “storytellers.”
Jeremy, however, remains unshaken, believing in the integrity of his craft. Recalling his admiration for Al Pacino, he shared a quote that resonates deeply with his philosophy: “A man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for.”
The actor also reflected on his journey, recalling a formative experience in 1993 when he camped overnight with his father to watch the Academy Awards from the bleachers. “I feel it’s just crazy to me that I get to do this with my life and I don’t take any of it for granted. So that’s also part of why I want to give it so much. I don’t know any other way of doing it. I want to give it everything,” he stated.
Despite the criticism, Jeremy believes his process aligns with his artistic purpose. “…We’re living in Roy Cohn’s world now, one he prepared the ground for, planting these malignant seeds that have now borne terrible fruit,” he said, referencing his Apprentice character.
“I think there’s this sort of Trumpism in our culture now where, and the media is partly responsible for it to be honest, where meanness travels,” he added.
