Jeremy Strong has revealed that playing Kendall Roy had a worrying long-term impact on his mental health.
The 45-year-old actor explained that he ‘sometimes lost touch with joy’ while reflecting on his time playing the character on the Emmy-winning hit series Succession.
‘It f***ed me up,’ he admitted in a recent interview with The Sunday Times before adding that he ‘doesn’t miss it.’
Since moving on from the role, the Golden Globe winner — who was previously criticized by his on-screen father, Brian Cox, for his unrelenting method acting — said he has found ‘joy’ in his life again.
‘I went on a silent meditation retreat last week,’ he continued. ‘I really needed it.’
He explained: ‘There’s so much noise and busyness now. I have opportunities that I only ever imagined.’
Strong also shared how healing the silent retreat was to his life and well-being.
‘I’ve rediscovered play,’ he said. ‘I sometimes lost touch with joy.’
Strong — who is known for being a dedicated method actor — was previously ‘overwhelmed’ by his role as Kendall, the wounded black sheep of the Roy dynasty.
During his chat, he admitted how relieved he was to leave the role and the show behind.
Because unlike his co-stars, he did not leave his character on the set and continued to embody Kendall even when he was off-camera and off the screen.
He previously told the outlet that he would imagine terrible things happening in his own life to mentally prepare for the role, which ultimately harmed his mental health.
Now, he said that even though Succession was a ‘gift,’ he is glad he no longer has to ‘carry Kendall’s struggle’ anymore and ‘doesn’t miss it.’
‘Listen, that show was an incalculable gift,’ Strong said about Succession and finally leaving his character behind. ‘The material a banquet. So I miss that.’
He continued: ‘But Kendall’s struggle was difficult to carry for seven years. And there’s just so much more I want to do.’
When asked if he would return to the role for a spin-off if the opportunity presented itself, he shut it down.
‘It’s not something I have any wish to do any longer,’ he said. ‘I’m aware it is one of the main chapters of my life, but I don’t miss it.’
In his interview, he also spoke about his latest role in the controversial new film, The Apprentice.
Strong talked about his experience playing Roy Cohn — the ruthless and morally corrupt attorney and mentor of Donald Trump.
After Steven Cheung, Trump’s 2024 campaign spokesperson, called the biopic a ‘malicious defamation [that] belongs in a dumpster fire,’ Strong said it ‘made me laugh.’
‘Because it’s exactly what Roy would have counseled them to do,’ he explained.
‘Attack, deny everything, never admit defeat. Their tactic is a campaign of misinformation. Without seeing the movie, they assumed it could be damaging. But there’s nothing in it that Trump himself hasn’t touted or bragged about.’
The Apprentice is now in theaters after premiering on Friday, October 11.