Succession

Succession: Five Reasons to Get Hooked on HBO’s Succession

Vogue has this to say about the acting on Succession:

Actually, Succession’s Casting in General

It’s true that the Roy siblings don’t look like siblings—but they’re a brilliant, thoroughly unexpected ensemble nonetheless. It’s hard to pick a favorite. Is it Kieran Culkin, hilarious as the dissolute, revoltingly selfish youngest Roy scion, Roman? Or Sarah Snook as Siobhan, deceptively chill in her Waspy Fair Isle sweaters, but just as greedy as the rest of them (her nickname, “Shiv,” is perfect)? Or—my personal favorite—Matthew Macfadyen as Shiv‘s arriviste, excruciatingly gauche boyfriend, Tom. And I haven’t even mentioned Alan Ruck or Nicholas Braun or Hiam Abbass—this is a show packed with talent, and not an A-lister among them.

 

Succession: Exclusive Cast Talks HBO Succession at NY Premiere

The Knockturnal has posted cast interviews from the premiere.  You can read the full interviews HERE.

Matthew Macfadyen – “Tom”

Can you describe your character in three words?

Matthew Macfadyen: A f*cking idiot. That’s not very good is it?

Can you talk about your character’s relationship to the Roy family?

Matthew Macfadyen: So I’m the fiancé of the daughter of the patriarch, whose played by Brian Cox. I work for the company. I’m head of parks, so I work for the parks division. I’m in love with her, but I’m also keen to be in the family firm and get embedded as much as possible.

What drew you to this project?

Matthew Macfadyen: I just thought the writing was a hoot. I thought it was really fun. Great cast and I hadn’t played an American before so that was a big draw and shooting in Manhattan 

Succession: Seat42F Interview with Matthew Macfadyen

Seat42F has an exclusive interview with Matthew Macfadyen and mainly his role in Succession.  You can read the full interview HERE.

Here is small bit with Matthew: 

You said you wanted to do more work in the United States. Is this gonna be the first of a series of new projects for you over here, or is it just kind of something you’re dabbling in for the moment?


MATTHEW: Just dabbling. I mean, I don’t do anything but dabble. I don’t have any plan. I think most actors don’t. I think the things you can do is: not do things. Don’t try and do the same things you’ve been doing and get further avenues. So it’s really been a breath of fresh air, playing an American, doing a TV show, and getting the experience here. They’re all new things. For an actor, that’s kind of great. Otherwise, it can become a bit stale, always playing the same time of part, all the same media. And it’s just fun filming in Manhattan, my god.

Succession: Further Reviews

Indiewire:  

Come for the incisive takedown of white collar culture, stay for Matthew Macfadyen's brilliant (and bizarre) comic turn.

But the real scene-stealer is Tom, played by the always great Matthew Macfadyen. As Shiv’s longterm partner and an employee at the Roy family company, Macfadyen gets not only a comedic turn, but a bizarrecomedic turn. Tom is a different person to everyone. At work, he’s a people pleaser to his bosses, who are also his would-be father- and brothers-in-law. Macfadyen maintains a “I can take anything with a smile” look forsuchdismissive assaults it’s impressive he can make it convincing — but he does. With those underneath him, mainly a new-hire (and family cousin) named Greg (Nicholas Braun), he’s as cruel and rude as his bosses are to him (the “Chain of Screaming” from “How I Met Your Mother” comes to mind). With his girlfriend, he’s silly and romantic; he’s charming, even.

So, which one is the true Tom? Is he a company climber, only in his relationship for its connections? Or is he a St. Paul simpleton, in love with a woman but corrupted by her family?

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