Succession star Brian Cox disses co-star Jeremy Strong’s method acting AGAIN

Actor Brian Cox, who plays the aloof patriarch of the Roy family in HBO‘s ‘Succession,’ is doubling down on his stance against co-star Jeremy Strong’s method acting. 

In a new interview on ‘The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,’ the Scotland native, 76, made fun of his ‘harsh’ words about Strong’s approach to acting, which he called ‘f**king annoying’ in a previous interview. 

Telling Fallon he wanted to apologize and ‘set the record straight,’ Cox introduced a preview of a spoof MasterClass in which he teaches acting, with tip number one seemingly aimed directly at his on-screen son.  

‘Just f**king do it. Say the f**king lines and don’t bump into the f**king furniture,’ Cox’s states as his top tip for aspiring actors. 

The parody MasterClass is the latest jab at Strong, 44, whose Method acting has made headlines and caused Cox to say, ‘don’t get me going on it.’

Actor Brian Cox who plays the aloof patriarch of the Roy family in HBO’s ‘Succession’ is doubling down on his stance against co-star Jeremy Strong’s Method acting

In a new interview, the Scotland native, 76, made fun of his ‘harsh’ words about Strong’s approach to acting, which he called ‘f**king annoying’ in a previous interview

Cox appeared on the late-night television program to promote the upcoming final season of ‘Succession’ which begins airing Sunday, March 26. 

In their nearly ten minute long discussion, Fallon and Cox discuss everything from their long careers to their favorite non-work activities before the conversation turns to Strong. 

‘You’ve actually gone viral for some of your opinions on Method acting,’ Fallon says. 

‘Well, you know Jimmy, I’ve been a little harsh,’ Cox says before briefly being cut off by the audience’s laughter. 

‘No no, I have, careful,’ he says turning to audience members who are still chuckling. 

‘I have been a little harsh on it and I’m sorry about that. In fact, I’ve been trying to set the record straight in a MasterClass series of acting that I’ve just been doing,’ Cox says. 

‘I didn’t know you did a MasterClass,’ Fallon responds. 

‘No, it is. Actually, I’ve brought a clip if you want to see it. And I think this more eloquently explains my feelings about acting,’ he says. 

The parody video starts with Cox himself addressing the audience, saying: ‘Hi, I’m Brian Cox, and this is my MasterClass on the craft of acting.’ 

A quick cut then shows Cox going off on his rant and telling the audience to ‘just f**king do it,’ before the camera cuts back to Fallon who jokingly wipes away tears. 

‘That’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,’ Fallon jokes. 

The parody is the latest dig in Cox’s history of simplifying his craft. While Strong’s name did not directly come up during his interview with Fallon, it appears to address the recent flurry of media coverage involving the co-star. 

‘Well, you know Jimmy, I’ve been a little harsh,’ Cox says before briefly being cut off by the audience’s laughter while addressing his comments on Strong’s Method acting 

‘I have been a little harsh on it and I’m sorry about that. In fact, I’ve been trying to set the record straight in a MasterClass series of acting that I’ve just been doing,’ Cox says

The parody video starts with Cox himself addressing the audience, saying: ‘Hi, I’m Brian Cox, and this is my MasterClass on the craft of acting’

The parody is the latest dig in Cox’s history of simplifying his craft. While Strong’s name did not directly come up during his interview with Fallon, it appears to address the recent flurry of media coverage involving the co-star

‘He’s a very good actor. And the rest of the ensemble is all OK with this. But knowing a character and what the character does is only part of the skill set,’ Cox said in February

In a Town & Country interview last month, Cox said Strong – who plays the forlorn and rebellious Kendall Roy on ‘Succession’ – is a ‘very good actor’ but that being around someone who is always in character can get old fast. 

‘He’s a very good actor. And the rest of the ensemble is all OK with this. But knowing a character and what the character does is only part of the skill set,’ Cox said. 

Strong, a Yale grad made major headlines in 2021 when a New Yorker article detailed the extent of his Method acting in a now-viral interview. 

At the time, the piece’s author spoke with Cox who spoke on Strong’s ‘intense’ style.

‘I’ve worked with intense actors before. It’s a particularly American disease, I think, this inability to separate yourself off while you’re doing the job,’ Cox said in 2021. 

In that article, Strong and Cox’s other costars including Kieran Culkin spoke about his methods and their experience with him on set.   

‘After the first season, he [Strong] said something to me like, “I’m worried that people might think that the show is a comedy.” And I said, ‘I think the show is a comedy,’ Culkin – who plays another Roy son – said. ‘He thought I was kidding.’ 

The show’s executive producer, Adam McKay said the intensity Strong brings to the role is part of the reason he embodies the character of Kendall. 

‘That’s exactly why we cast Jeremy in that role,’ McKay told New Yorker magazine. ‘Because he’s not playing it like a comedy. He’s playing it like he’s Hamlet.’ 

In the same interview, Cox agreed, saying:  ‘The result that Jeremy gets is always pretty tremendous. I just worry about what he does to himself. I worry about the crises he puts himself through in order to prepare.’

In a more recent interview, Cox doubled down on his 2021 statement, voicing his concern Strong will get ‘worn out’ if he doesn’t separated himself from the job. 

‘He does get obsessed with the work,’ Cox told late-night host Seth Myers. 

‘And I worry about what it does to him, because if you can’t separate yourself — because you’re dealing with all of this material every day. You can’t live in it. Eventually, you get worn out,’ the Scottish actor continued. 

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Cox (center) plays patriarch Logan Roy, father to Shiv Roy played by Sarah Snook (far left), Connor Roy played by Alan Ruck (second to left), Kendall Roy played by Jeremy Strong (second from right), and Roman Roy played by Kieran Culkin (far right) 

In its run, the show has been nominated for 48 Emmy awards and has won more than a dozen

‘Jesse won’t let anything go on further than it needs to,’ Cox said of show creator Jesse Armstrong. ‘A lot of shows outstay their welcome, and I think our show is perfect, and neat, in the way it is’

Despite the disputes over acting styles, there does not appear to be any bad blood between the costars, who were pictured just this week together at the show’s premiere for the fourth season. 

Additionally, Strong has responded to Cox’s statements, saying the older actor has   ‘earned the right’ to trash talk certain ways of acting. 

‘Everyone’s entitled to have their feelings. I also think Brian Cox, for example, he’s earned the right to say whatever the f—k he wants,’ Strong said. ‘There was no need to address that or do damage control.’

Cox has also not been shy about sharing his thoughts about the massively successful show coming to an end after 48 Emmy nominations and almost certainly more to come after season four. 

The actor said he respects series creator Jesse Armstrong choosing to end the show. 

‘Jesse won’t let anything go on further than it needs to,’ Cox said. ‘A lot of shows outstay their welcome, and I think our show is perfect, and neat, in the way it is.’

‘In a good way. I’m happy it’s over,’ Cox said.