“The Big Short.” “Molly’s Game.” “The Gentlemen.” “Masters of Sex.” “The Trial of the Chicago 7.” “Succession.” This isn’t just a listing of some of the most interesting films and TV shows of the last 5 years. Instead, this is just a sampling of the filmography of Jeremy Strong, who is easily one of the most intriguing actors working today. But over the past couple of days, social media has exploded with a back and forth about whether Strong is an incredible artist or just another self-serious, privileged, out-of-touch actor. And the debate seems to have started with one profile piece in The New Yorker.
For those who might not be overly familiar with Strong’s work, he’s probably best known for his role as Kendall Roy, the hapless second son of Logan Roy and the heir-apparent to the Roy media empire. But he’s also just a bit of a bumbling buffoon sometimes, making him one of the more endearing, fan-favorite characters in an ensemble of great actors. But in a recent New Yorker piece, people were given the chance to peek behind the curtain and understand who Strong actually is. And almost immediately after publishing the piece, people erupted on social media either lambasting Strong or praising him. This debate ended up including Jessica Chastain, who quickly went to the defense of Strong.
“I’ve known Jeremy Strong for 20yrs & worked with him on 2 films,” tweeted Chastain. “He’s a lovely person. Very inspiring & passionate about his work. The profile that came out on him was incredibly one-sided. Don’t believe everything you read folks. Snark sells but maybe it’s time we move beyond it.”
So, what is the deal with this profile that has people up in arms and social media firing off hot takes for the last couple of days? Well, you see, the New Yorker piece is structured as a typical actor profile, with quotes from the subject, quotes from people they’ve worked with, and a history of the subject’s career. Except in the Jeremy Strong profile, there does seem to be a running theme about the actor being a little too self-serious, which is seemingly meant to compare him to his “Succession” character, Kendall.
In the piece, “Succession” cast member Kieran Culkin talked about Strong and said, “After the first season, he 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.’ He thought I was kidding.”
See? Jeremy Strong is so serious and out of touch, right? At least that’s what we’re led to believe when the writer adds that they told Strong that “Succession” is a dark comedy, to which the actor replied, “In the sense that, like, Chekhov is comedy?”
This exchange is immediately followed by a quote by Adam McKay, who said, “That’s exactly why we cast Jeremy in that role. Because he’s not playing it like a comedy. He’s playing it like he’s Hamlet.”
You get the idea, right? The piece paints a picture of a super-serious capital-A actor who goes to Daniel Day-Lewis-esque depths to prepare for a character. Someone who is so involved with his own acting style, he is missing the very humorous nature of the project and his out-of-touch, sometimes cringe character.
Of course, that is an interesting narrative that does make for a good read. But as Chastain (and many others online) have pointed out, it doesn’t really show Strong in a complimentary light at all, which is a disservice to a performer who is one of the best working today. Even other outlets, like The Telegraph, weighed in.
Regardless of the writer’s intentions or if Strong’s comments are taken out of context, it would appear the New Yorker piece struck a nerve with many people who read it, for better or worse.
To help lighten the mood, how about some clips of Strong from “Succession?”
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