Anne Hathaway is joining stars defending Succession star Jeremy Strong, after a profile on the actor in The New Yorker went viral earlier this week.
In the original article, 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.
Since then, actress Jessica Chastain and Oscar-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin have leaped to his defense, and Hathaway joined in them in a lengthy Instagram post on Saturday morning.
Speaking out: Anne Hathaway doubles down on support for Succession star Jeremy Strong after New Yorker profile as she praises his ‘extraordinary sensitivity’
‘As the week ends, I would like to send some love to Jeremy Strong who I’m lucky enough to have worked with twice and who I am proud to consider a friend,’ she wrote, alongside a picture of Strong clutching an Emmy Award.
‘I deeply value his qualities of thoughtfulness, sincerity, authenticity, sweetness, depth, kindness, generosity, as well as his powerful intelligence and extraordinary sensitivity,’ she added.
Without name-checking the article per se, it seemed Anne was reference the saga as she continued: ‘He is an incredibly talented and inventive artist who is fully engaged and committed on set, as well as a passionate, open person in life. I find all of these things inspiring. (oh, and he’s fun.)’
In support: Anne posted this lengthy Instagram caption on Saturday morning
Who me? Jeremy Strong has been the subject of intense discussion this week thanks a to a profile in The New Yorker
Dedicated: He also noted that Strong was ‘not a nut…he builds himself an on-ramp so that he’s already started to give the performance by the time the director calls ‘action”
Hathaway’s post follows a day after Sorkin blasted the profile’s author, Michael Schulman, saying he had created a ‘distorted picture of Jeremy that asks us to roll our eyes at his acting process.’
Sorkin pointed out that the writer had asked him to make several comments about the actor, of which only one was used in the piece itself.
He also noted that Strong was ‘not a nut…he builds himself an on-ramp so that he’s already started to give the performance by the time the director calls “action.”‘
Speaking out: Aaron Sorkin released a statement regarding Jeremy Strong’s controversial profile in The New Yorker through Jessica Chastain’s Twitter account on Friday
The writer did recall, however, that the performer asked to experience the effects of tear gas during the filming of The Trial Of The Chicago 7, which he had to shoot down.
‘Jeremy would never suggest endangering a member of the cast or crew or anyone else. It was something he mentioned in passing and I was telling the story affectionately and as a way of demonstrating his commitment,’ he wrote.
He concluded his message by writing that ‘Jeremy Strong is a great actor and a great company member. There isn’t a writer, director or producer on Earth who wouldn’t grab at the chance to cast him.’
Concerned: Actor Brian Cox admitted that he worries about how far Jeremy goes in his acting methods and ‘what he does to himself’
Brian Cox previously voiced his concerns for his Succession co-star in the wake of the profile’s release.
Sorkin expressed that the actor was only interested in eliciting a solid performance and was not trying to place anyone else working on the project in danger.
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.
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’
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.
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.’