Brian Cox Slams Tarantino, Jeremy Strong, and More in Harsh New Interview

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Look, as a critic, I’ve learned to expect a little heat from actors, but Brian Cox – the Emmy winner, and frankly, a legend – consistently delivers. He’s famous for letting his thoughts fly, often launching into unexpected critiques of movies, the industry, and even the people he works with. This time, it’s Quentin Tarantino who’s in the firing line, following some controversial comments Tarantino made about Paul Dano. Apparently, even Jeremy Strong – Cox’s Succession co-star – has asked him to stop bringing him up in these discussions! It’s always interesting when Cox speaks his mind, to say the least.

Actor Brian Cox, promoting his first film as a director, Glenrothan, explained how his approach differs from that of Quentin Tarantino. While Tarantino is known for a very distinct and controlling style—where his films feel entirely shaped by his vision—Cox prefers to give his actors more freedom. He described himself as more collaborative and less of a self-proclaimed “visionary,” telling The Times he values honoring an actor’s individual performance. He even went so far as to call Tarantino’s style “gaudy,” using the more formal term “meretricious” to describe it.

Jeremy Strong’s acting approach is rooted in a technique called “the Method,” where actors fully immerse themselves in a character’s emotions and backstory. This can involve staying in character even off-camera, which sometimes bothered his co-star Brian Cox during their four seasons together on HBO’s Succession. Cox has described Strong’s process as frustrating, despite acknowledging the quality of his performances, and worried it could lead to burnout, similar to what happened to Daniel Day-Lewis. Cox has noted that Strong learned this technique while working as Day-Lewis’ assistant.

So, apparently Daniel Day-Lewis once asked Brian Cox to come talk things over with him directly. When asked if he did, Brian said he hadn’t – and honestly, that just made the whole situation even more interesting, if you can believe it!

Daniel Day-Lewis is very private and always respectful of the filmmaking process. I don’t want to cause trouble by talking about Jeremy Irons – he’s asked me to stop in the past. He’s a truly talented actor, but there’s a lot of unnecessary drama surrounding him. It’s simple, really – watch children act. They don’t overthink things like ‘motivation,’ they just naturally do it.

Courtney Cox isn’t the only performer critical of this acting approach. Last December, while discussing her directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, Kristen Stewart described it as a way for male actors to protect themselves from appearing vulnerable. She suggested that some actors see traditional acting as “unmasculine” and use this method to avoid that perception. Stewart also pointed out that claiming to simply deliver someone else’s ideas, rather than creating a performance, is actually a sign of passivity.

Brian Cox didn’t hold back in a recent interview, criticizing several prominent figures including Quentin Tarantino, Jeremy Strong, and Daniel Day-Lewis. He also used harsh language towards playwright David Hare and director Michael Caton-Jones. Cox admits his wife has warned him to be more cautious with his words, but at 80 years old, he’s decided to simply say whatever is on his mind. He’s turning 80 this year and doesn’t feel the need to stay silent anymore.

Brian Cox calls his new film, Glenrothan, a heartfelt tribute to Scotland. The movie features Cox and Alan Cumming as brothers reconnecting after 35 years apart. It will be released in the UK on April 17th, but there are currently no plans for a release in the United States. Unfortunately, early reviews haven’t been kind; Collider described it as overly sweet and frustratingly familiar, criticizing its uninspired storytelling.

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2026-04-06 23:08