HBO Succession contains a strong mix of humor and drama, and most viewers rated the series as satire. After all, you have to dive deep into the life of one of America’s richest families – and while the Roys are fictional, their issues and circumstances intentionally mirror the wealthy individuals that exist. But while the show pokes fun at family, the characters take what is thrown at them seriously. And according to Succession star Jeremy Strong, he does too. In a recent profile, he even admitted that he doesn’t consider the show to be a comedy.

Jeremy Strong as the most intense character in “Succession”

Perhaps it’s no surprise that Jeremy Strong takes Succession a little more seriously than most people. After all, he is one of the most intense characters in the HBO series. While aggressiveness and ambition abound in the Roy family, Kendall tends to take herself the most seriously. Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Shiv (Sarah Snook) are generally more laid back in their pursuit of power, while Connor (Alan Ruck) often acts like he’s living in another world.

Compared to her siblings, Kendall also finds herself in the most dire of situations – whether it’s going to war with her father, battling addiction, or dealing with past mistakes. And Strong places himself firmly in his character’s personality. For this reason, the series doesn’t read like a comedy at all to him.

The actor doesn’t think of the HBO series as a comedy

During an interview with The New Yorker, Jeremy Strong discussed playing Kendall on HBO Succession. While many viewers find humor in the characters’ stories, the actor admitted he approaches them with the same attitude as the man he plays.

“For me, the stakes are life or death,” Strong said of Kendall. “I take it as seriously as I take my own life.”

That’s probably what makes Kendall’s struggles so believable, and maybe that’s why fans sympathize with him even when he doesn’t always deserve it.

Of course, Strong’s belief in his character’s motivations is also due to his acting style. Although he does not speak of a method of action, the Succession The star actually uses a similar strategy on set, fully putting herself in Kendall’s shoes even when the cameras aren’t rolling.

Jeremy Strong’s acting methods may play into this belief

Jeremy Strong’s method of acting was a hot topic in his New York profile, with Brian Cox commenting on how intense it can get for everyone behind the scenes. Naturally, Strong wondered why he takes this approach in his work. According to him, you have to believe what he sells rather than seeing it as a work of fiction:

“It was like a prayer I had said, not knowing if I would have the courage to be an actor. I can’t work in a way that feels like I’m doing a TV show. need, for some reason, to believe it’s real and commit to that sense of belief.

Know the turn SuccessionKendall’s third season is all about the character of Kendall, it couldn’t be easy to capture that level of emotion. Fortunately, this is paying off in terms of praise from the fans. Not only is Kendall one of the most beloved characters on the HBO show, viewers can’t wait to see where it takes him.

Succession Season 3 is currently airing on HBO Max.

RELATED: ‘Estate’ Star Brian Cox Regretted Turning Down ‘Game of Thrones’ Role: ‘I Was Dumb, That Was Dumb’