Brian Cox Says Jeremy Strong Begged Him to Stop Discussing His Method Acting
Brian Cox reveals that Jeremy Strong requested he cease discussing his method acting techniques in interviews, following years of Cox's vocal criticism.
Brian Cox has revealed that Jeremy Strong pleaded with him to stop discussing his method acting in interviews. The veteran actor has been consistently vocal about his dislike of method acting, a technique where performers immerse themselves so deeply in a character that they maintain the persona even between takes.
The Succession actor has spoken critically about Strong's approach on several occasions, once describing it as “fucking annoying” in 2023. He elaborated a year later, telling the Guardian that remaining in character disrupts production, harms the ensemble dynamic, and breeds “hostility.”
In a recent interview with The Times, Cox expressed reluctance to continue discussing Strong, stating, “Because I’ve got into a lot of problems and he’s begged me to stop talking about him. He’s a good actor, Jeremy. He’s a wonderful actor. It’s just all the bollocks that goes with it. You watch children – they don’t say, ‘What’s my motivation?’ They just do it!”
Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy in the finale of ‘Succession’. CREDIT: HBO
Daniel Day-Lewis, another prominent figure associated with method acting, previously voiced his displeasure with Cox’s remarks. He told The Big Issue in 2025, “He’s been given a soapbox, which he shows no sign of climbing down from. Any time he wants to talk about it, I’m easy to find.”
When The Times inquired if he had accepted Day-Lewis's invitation, Cox responded, “No, I haven’t reached out, because it’s got nothing to do with Dan Day-Lewis.”
Cox didn't stop there. In the same interview, he took aim at other Hollywood figures, calling Edward Norton “a pain in the arse,” Kevin Spacey a “stupid, stupid man,” and stating that Ian McKellen’s acting was “not to my taste.”
He also commented on Margot Robbie‘s casting in Wuthering Heights, adopting a mock Australian accent: “‘Keith Cliff! It’s me, Cathy! How ya doing, Keith? Awright?’ ‘Yeah, I’m awright!’”
When questioned about whether his bluntness has caused issues, he said: “Well, I don’t know yet if it’s caused me problems. I mean, my wife keeps saying, ‘Brian, be careful. Brian, be careful.’ I think, ‘Fuck it, I don’t want to be careful any more! I’ll be 80 this year. Fuck it! I’m gonna say what I want to say.’”
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