‘He’s a lovely person’: Jessica Chastain defends Succession star Jeremy Strong after interview profile reveals his VERY extreme approach to acting
- Jeremy, 42, has raised eyebrows after an interview profile in The New Yorker laid bare his intense acting methods, that has resulted in injuries
- Leaping to his defense on Twitter, actress Jessica Chastain said on Tuesday: ‘He’s a lovely person’
- The profile also suggested his co-stars are often left baffled by his intense approach to playing Kendall Roy on the hit HBO show
Jessica Chastain is speaking out in support of Succession star Jeremy Strong, following an interview profile on the actor that was published by The New Yorker on Monday.
In it, the 42-year-old actor’s very extreme approach to acting is revealed, including how he has injured himself doing stunts that were not required in the script.
Leaping to his defense, Oscar-nominated actress Chastain tweeted Tuesday that the interview was ‘one-sided’ and referred to it as ‘snarky’ after the eye-opening article caused a fevered reaction among fans.
‘He’s a lovely person’: Jessica Chastain defends Succession star Jeremy Strong after interview profile reveals his VERY extreme approach to acting
‘I’ve known Jeremy Strong for 20yrs & worked with him on 2 films,’ she wrote. ‘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 its time we move beyond it,’ she added.
Chastain and Strong have worked together on 2012’s Zero Dark Thirty and 2017’s Molly’s Game.
The article delved into the intense nature of the Boston-born actor and the lengths that he will go to in playing Kendall Roy on the hit HBO comedy/drama.
Intense: The article delved into the intense nature of the Boston-born actor and the lengths that he will go to in playing Kendall Roy on the hit HBO comedy/drama
It even includes quotes from his co-stars Brian Cox and Kieran Culkin who express their concerns over some of Strong’s acting methods.
The stunning profile reveals that Strong will often ad-lib lines and come up with his own stunts that are not part of the script, which have resulted in the actor seriously injuring himself.
Arguably, the profile presents information that paints a picture of Strong as being an actor highly dedicated to his craft. Though perhaps at times, too dedicated.
Concerned: Actor Brian Cox admitted that he worries about how far Jeremy goes in his acting methods and ‘what he does to himself’
Chastain’s takeaway from the article was that it was littered with sarcastic criticism of the actor, hence her leaping to his defense.
However, there are on the record quotes that are undeniably concerning.
Speaking in the piece to staff writer Michael Schulman, Brian Cox said: ‘I just worry about what he does to himself. I worry about the crises he puts himself through in order to prepare.’
Strong admits in the piece that he is currently wearing a leg brace after jumping off five-foot-high stage during a scene in the third season, that affected his femur and his tibia.
The scene was not used in the show, and it’s unclear if he was asked to do it.
Pushing himself: The actor reveals in the interview profile that he has sustained at least two injuries while filming the drama for HBO
Meanwhile, co-star Kieran Culkin and executive producer Adam McKay also spoke about how he does not see the role as comic.
Kieran said: ‘After the first season, [Jeremy] 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.’
Adam meanwhile revealed his bizarre severity is the reason Jeremy was cast, as he claimed his attitude to the show helped Kendall’s character.
He 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.’
Worries: His on-screen father Brian Cox (pictured) admitted he fears for Jeremy’s process, 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’