Jeremy Strong Reflects on Playing Kendall in Succession for Seven Years: “It Was Difficult” and He Doesn’t Miss the Role

In a reflective dialogue about his portrayal of Kendall Roy in the hit series Succession, Jeremy Strong opens up about the profound effects the role had on his life. Speaking to The Times on Sunday, October 13, he elucidated his reasons for moving on from the character.

Strong’s captivating performance as Kendall earned him both an Emmy and a Golden Globe; however, he has expressed little desire to revisit the role in any future spinoff. He stated:

“It’s not something I have any wish to do any longer. I’m aware it is one of the main chapters of my life, but I don’t miss it.”

The actor conveyed that adopting the character’s deeply troubled mentality over four seasons took a toll on him, mentioning that at times he “lost touch with joy.”While he acknowledged missing elements of the series, he candidly admitted the strain of portraying Kendall, noting:

“That show was an incalculable gift. The material a banquet. So I miss that. But Kendall’s struggle was difficult to carry for seven years.”

Since its debut in 2018, Succession captivated audiences for four seasons, concluding with a finale in 2023. The series centers around the affluent Roy family, who are at the helm of a global media and entertainment conglomerate, led by family patriarch Logan Roy, portrayed by Brian Cox, with Strong’s character being one of his many dysfunctional adult offspring.

Additionally, Strong shared that a crucial factor in his decision to sidestep any potential spinoff is his eagerness to explore broader avenues in his craft, particularly focusing on rediscovering the essence of theater post-show.

Jeremy Strong reflects on his transition from Kendall Roy to Roy Cohn

Kendall Roy is undoubtedly one of the defining roles of Jeremy Strong’s career. He mentioned to The Times his initial doubts about his career path after the conclusion of the show but resolved to “achieve exit velocity”to embark on further acting endeavors. Despite these concerns, he stated he didn’t dwell on them and instead seized the opportunity.

His next project has him portraying Roy Cohn in the upcoming biopic The Apprentice, focusing on Donald Trump’s early business ventures. Reflecting on this transition, Strong remarked:

“I went right into Roy Cohn, partly to sort of shake [Succession] off.”

The film, which features Sebastian Stan, premiered in theaters across the United States on October 11, following its showings at various film festivals. It explores Trump’s business growth in the 70s and 80s, showcasing Roy Cohn, the notoriously cutthroat attorney and influential mentor to Trump. Reflecting on the role, Jeremy Strong commented:

“Roy Cohn, you can’t overstate his influence in our country, his legacy of the denial of reality and certain things that he imparted to Donald Trump. His playbook has a tentacular reach that is staggering—the most fascinating person I’ve ever tried to inhabit.”

Though Strong acknowledges having personal judgments about Cohn, he insists that these feelings do not interfere with his creative process.

Now screening in US theaters, The Apprentice stars Maria Bakalova, Martin Donovan, and Catherine McNally, and is crafted by journalist Gabriel Sherman alongside Iranian director Ali Abbasi.

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