Brian Cox says foul-mouthed 'Succession' role has made him swear more

Tom Beasley
·Contributor
·2 min read
Brian Cox has played media mogul Logan Roy in all three seasons of 'Succession'. (HBO)
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Brian Cox has joked that his Succession character Logan Roy is "the most misunderstood man on television" and said his involvement in the show has made him swear more.

In an interview with BBC Scotland, due to be broadcast in full next week, Cox said there is "a lot more swearing now" in his life, in the wake of his work in the famously potty-mouthed HBO series.

Read more: Brian Cox regrets comments about Johnny Depp

Roy has become particularly well-known for dismissing underlings in his company with a pithy and venomous "f*** off", which Cox admits has become one of his own favourites.

"The F-word, nobody does it like the Scots," he said.

Brian Cox and the cast of 'Succession' won at the Screen Actors Guild Awards earlier this year. (Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty)
Brian Cox and the cast of 'Succession' won at the Screen Actors Guild Awards earlier this year. (Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty)

Succession has won plaudits for all three of its seasons since the show was created by Peep Show's Jesse Armstrong.

It tells the story of double-crosses and behind the scenes manoeuvres around the Roy family, with control of Logan's media and entertainment company potentially up for grabs amid the patriarch's advancing age and declining health.

Read more: Recapping the stories of Succession

"As an actor, you never judge who you are playing," said Cox of playing such a seemingly unlikable character.

He added: "You can't blame your parents for everything. You are an adult and eventually you are responsible for your own life. You can't always make your parent the fall guy.

Brian Cox returned as Logan Roy in the third season of 'Succession'. (David M. Russell/HBO/Sky)
Brian Cox returned as Logan Roy in the third season of 'Succession'. (David M. Russell/HBO/Sky)

"My own kids are quite generous that way. They excuse me because they know what my life is.

"For Logan, it is a different thing. Those kids have so much and they are ruined by that. They are avaricious and they are spoilt."

Cox confessed that, if Logan Roy were real, he would likely "find me a bit boring".

Read more: Succession and the best TV of 2021

Succession was renewed last year for a fourth season and the cast won the award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

The Brian Cox Interview will air on Tuesday evening on BBC Scotland and will be available to all UK viewers via iPlayer afterwards.

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