Brian Cox, the acclaimed Scottish actor known for his role as the ruthless media mogul Logan Roy in HBO’s Succession, has once again made headlines with his unfiltered comments about some of Hollywood’s most famous names. In a recent interview, Cox didn’t hold back, openly criticizing several high-profile actors and even expressing his dislike for certain directors.
During a profile published by The Times on April 3, the 79-year-old actor revealed that he had no interest in working with Johnny Depp, whom he called “so overblown” and “so overrated.” Cox reportedly turned down the role of Governor Swann in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, which ultimately went to Jonathan Pryce. This decision was mentioned in his 2021 memoir, Putting the Rabbit in Hat, where he explained that he felt the role would have been “thankless,” given that the series is centered around Depp’s iconic portrayal of Jack Sparrow.
Cox also didn’t shy away from calling his 25th Hour co-star Edward Norton a “pain in the a—” and described Kevin Spacey, with whom he worked on Iron Will, as “a stupid, stupid man.” He also expressed that he doesn’t particularly enjoy the acting style of Ian McKellen, while labeling Quentin Tarantino, the Oscar-winning director, as “meretricious.”
In addition to his critiques of fellow actors, Cox criticized the method acting techniques of his Succession co-star Jeremy Strong, calling it “f—— annoying.” Despite this, Succession was a massive success, winning 19 Emmy Awards over its four-season run, including six for its final season. Strong won the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series award in 2020, while Cox himself earned a Golden Globe in the same year for his performance.
Cox has always been known for his straightforward nature, and in this latest interview, he admitted that his wife has raised concerns about his tendency to speak his mind. However, he remains resolute. “I think, f— it, I don’t want to be careful any more! I’ll be 80 this year. F— it! I’m gonna say what I want to say,” he said.
Cox has been married twice. His first marriage was to actress Caroline Burt from 1968 to 1986, and they had two children, Margaret and Alan. He later married German actress Nicole Ansari-Cox in 2002, and the couple has two sons, Orson, 24, and Torin, 21.
A respected Shakespearean actor, Cox was appointed a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) in 2003. His filmography includes a wide range of roles, such as in The Long Kiss Goodnight, Super Troopers, The Ring, The Bourne Identity, X-Men 2, Red Eye, Adaptation, and Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
Throughout his career, Cox has remained a force to be reckoned with, not only in front of the camera but also behind the scenes, where his blunt and honest approach continues to make waves in the entertainment industry.
