Brian Cox Unleashes Candid Critique: Why Johnny Depp and Other A-Listers Are ‘Overrated

Brian Cox recently unleashed a no-holds-barred critique of several Hollywood heavyweights, labeling them as “stupid,” “overblown,” and “complete a***holes.”

The veteran actor, widely recognized for his portrayal of the domineering media tycoon Logan Roy in the hit series Succession, announced that now that he is nearing 80, he feels free to express his true opinions.

Looking back on his extensive film career, he shared candid thoughts on some of the most prominent figures in the entertainment industry.

Notably, Cox passed on the role of the governor in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. Rather than lamenting this decision, he felt a sense of relief.

His reluctance stemmed from a desire to avoid working with Johnny Depp, whom he described as “so overblown” and “so overrated,” according to his statement.

Discussing other huge names, he said he thought Edward Norton was ‘a pain in the a**e’, Kevin Spacey was a ‘a stupid, stupid man’ and that Ian McKellen’s acting was ‘not to his taste.’

Brian Cox did not hold back in a recent rant as he called out some of Hollywood’s biggest names, branding them ‘stupid’, ‘overblown’ and ‘complete a***holes’ 

Brian said he didn’t want to work alongside Johnny Depp (left) because he thinks the actor is ‘so overblown’ and ‘so overrated’, while he claimed Edward Norton was ‘a pain in the a**e’

And his rant on Hollywood didn’t end there as he said Quentin Tarantino was ‘meretricious’, Michael Caton-Jones was ‘a complete a***hole’ and that David Hare was a ‘see you next Tuesday’.

And while some actors are applauded for their dedication to method acting, Brian said in his interview with The Times that his Succession co-star Jeremy Strong’s approach was ‘f***ing annoying’.

Brian went on to explain that his wife has concerns about his no-nonsense approach to life and his willingness to express his true thoughts.

Yet he reasoned: ‘I think, ‘F*** it, I don’t want to be careful any more! I’ll be 80 this year. F*** it! I’m gonna say what I want to say.’

Brian has been married to Nicole Ansari-Cox since 2002, and the pair share two sons, Orson Jonathan, 24, and Torin, 21.

He may regret not taking his wife’s advice, however, as he has previously rubbed stars up the wrong way with his remarks. 

Last year, Daniel Day-Lewis hit back at Brian after the the Scottish actor dismissed method acting as ‘American s**t.’

Daniel is famed for the process, an intense rehearsal technique through which the actor attempts to channel a given character’s inner motivations and emotions through lived experience.

And Brian referenced this during a chat with Variety, in which he was bemoaning Jeremy’s method acting on the set of Succession.  

‘It’s really a cultural clash,’ he said. ‘I don’t put up with all that American s**t. I’m sorry. All that sort of “I think, therefore I feel.” Just do the job. Don’t identify.

‘Of course, Jeremy was Dan Day-Lewis’ assistant. So he’s learned all that stuff from Dan.’ 

Responding to Brian’s dismissive comments, Daniel then told The Big Issue: ‘Listen, I worked with Brian Cox once and got somehow drawn into this handbags-at-dawn conflict inadvertently.

‘Brian is a very fine actor who’s done extraordinary work. As a result he’s been given a soapbox… which he shows no sign of climbing down from.

‘Any time he wants to talk about it, I’m easy to find.’ 

Brian also said his Succession co-star Jeremy Strong’s method acting was ‘f***ing annoying’, despite sparking ire from Daniel Day-Lewis last year when he made similar remarks

The trio all worked together in the 1997 film The Boxer, with Brian and Daniel taking on leading roles, while a a then-unknown Jeremy served as Daniel’s assistant. 

Daniel continued:  ‘If I thought during our work together I’d interfered with his working process, I’d be appalled. 

‘But I don’t think it was like that. So I don’t know where the f**k that came from. Jeremy Strong is a very fine actor, I don’t know how he goes about things, but I don’t feel responsible in any way for that.’ 

While Brian is best known these days for his role in Succession, he has an illustrious career. 

Brian was the first actor to play Hannibal Lecter in Manhunter. 

He has starred in numerous films, including Rob Roy, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Super Troopers, The Ring, Adaptation, X2, Red Eye, and Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

He won a Golden Globe (2020) and a Primetime Emmy Award for his role in Succession, and was appointed a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) in 2003.

A respected Shakespearean actor, Brian has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, starring as King Lear.

He has also won two Olivier Awards for his performances in Rat in the Skull and Titus Andronicus.