'Succession' Star Brian Cox Did Not Hold Back in Criticizing This Oscar Winner’s Latest Performance
While some celebrities have opened up about their inner thoughts and feelings in candid interviews or tell-all memoirs, we can all agree celebrities tend to stay quiet about their not-so-positive experiences, especially when it can start a full-fledged feud. But, when it comes to Succession’s very own Brian Cox, a filter on what not to say is nowhere to be seen.
Most recently, Cox went on a rant at the 2024 HistFest in London criticizing films, actors, theatre critics, and politicians. In one moment, the actor went after Joaquin Phoenix and his performance in 2023’s Ridley Scott-directed war movie Napoleon, per The Standard.
“Terrible. It’s terrible. A truly terrible performance by Joaquin Phoenix,” Cox said, undoubtedly shocking the audience. “It really is appalling. I don’t know what he was thinking.”
“I think it’s totally his fault and I don’t think Ridley Scott helps him,” Cox continued. “I would have played it a lot better than Joaquin Phoenix, I tell you that. You can say it’s good drama. No – it’s lies.”
As if that wasn’t enough, Cox went on to make fun of the Oscar winner’s last name too. “I think he’s well-named,” he said. “Joaquin… whackeen… whacky. It’s a sort of whacky performance.”
As a reminder, while Phoenix has three Oscar nominations and one Academy Award win under his belt (he won in 2020 for his performance in Joker), his role in Napoleon failed to land him any major award nomination this year. In fact, Phoenix won the 2024 Worst Foreign Actor Award at the Spanish Yoga Awards.
So, while Cox’s thoughts were perhaps too unfiltered for his own good, it seems like the rest of the industry is in resounding agreement with Phoenix’s lackluster performance.
Also in his rant, Cox went after method acting, a practice Phoenix often uses for his roles. “Oh no, that’s all bollocks. It’s a kind of nonsense,” Cox said. “We’re transmitters. That’s what we are as actors. We transmit energy.”
Instead, the Succession star reiterated the importance of research behind acting. “You have to do your homework,” he said. “That’s the delight of it, the information you get because you’re reading everything about Churchill and you’re building up a picture of who this person was.” Looks like Cox is ready to give Phoenix a lesson or two!
Before you go, click here to see celebrity co-stars who allegedly hated each other in real life.