Jeremy Strong is known for his intense approach to acting, and the Succession star has made it clear that he has no plans to apologise for his method acting.
Strong defended his approach during an interview with The New Yorker Radio Hour, addressing the criticism he has received for becoming deeply immersed in his roles.
“If some people feel that I'm taking it too seriously, or it changes the molecules in the room in a way that makes something uncomfortable, I guess that’s something that I don’t feel that I need to apologize for,” he said.
Strong is currently starring as Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Reckoning, the upcoming film about the Facebook founder and the events surrounding the social media giant.
His commitment to the role reportedly meant that his co-stars rarely interacted with Jeremy Strong himself while filming. Instead, they were effectively dealing with the character of Mark Zuckerberg.
Strong said it was never his “intention to interfere” with his fellow actors, explaining that his focus is simply on committing fully to the work.
“I believe, and I think the directors that I work with all believe, that it's in service of the material, and I personally think that a lot of the reactions to it are of a personal nature,” he said.
The actor has developed a reputation for taking his performances extremely seriously, most famously during his time playing Kendall Roy in Succession. His approach to the role often became a topic of discussion among his co-stars, with Strong previously acknowledging that his process could sometimes create tension on set.
Despite the criticism, his method has also earned him significant recognition. Strong won an Emmy for his performance as Kendall and has since become one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed dramatic actors.
His performance as Zuckerberg in The Social Reckoning is now attracting attention before the film’s release, particularly because of the very different approach Strong has taken to portraying the tech billionaire.
For Strong, however, the reaction to his methods does not appear to be changing his approach.
“I don't feel that I need to apologize for that,” he said.
