Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
Everyone in HBOsSuccessionis bound together by a greedy killer instinct.
Most of what Tom does is governed by fear, Macfadyen says.
I found it difficult when I had to improvise sometimes, Macfadyen says.
I tend to go quite high with my American voice.
I kept thinking,Why am I sounding like Mickey Mouse?
Tom is this guy from Minneapolis thrown into a powerful New York family.
How did you approach the character?I just go with the script, really.
Its all there in the writing.
You get a feel for it.
Thats the lovely thing about doing long-form TV it builds as you work.
Its quite an organic feel.
Did you do lots of improv?We did a little bit, yeah.
Tom has some very unnerving line readings, especially with Greg.
Hell say something totally demented and then play it off as a joke.
You cant tell if hes being serious.Hes horrible to Greg, isnt he?
]I guess hes unsettled by Greg, but actually they end up needing each other a little bit.
Episode six really capitalizes on the humor in their relationship.
]Yeah, eating those little birds!
Wed very easily break out laughing.
Were not being as funny as we think we are.
So, it was tricky in that sense.
Theyre an odd couple.
At one point, Tom also takes Greg clubbing.
Were nightclubs ever your scene?No, Im not a nightclub person really.
In my 20s I was into pubs, and now Ive never really liked nightclubs.
What do you think Tom sees in Shiv?Hes in love with Shiv.
Thats part of it, too.
I think hes probably punching a little bit above his weight, actually, with Siobhan.
But they seem to get along pretty well.
But his first instinct is to get the lawyers and go to the press and make a clean start.
And then Siobhan really quickly says, Dont do that, and then he buries it.
How did you imagine Toms personal history?
You see Toms parents.
I dont know when we decided he was from Minnesota, but it seemed to work.
Successionis a show about the super wealthy.
What is your biggest extravagance?In my own life?
Ive got three kids.
My wife and I like hotels and going out and that kind of stuff.
So, no $2,000 gold-gilded vodka?No, exactly.
Its not gold-leaf vodka!
Ive been really lucky.
Im just happy that Im still working.
Do people still ask you aboutPride and Prejudice?A little bit.
Its their favorite movie and theyre in love with you.Oh, really?
It was a nice job.
It feels like a long time ago.Pride and Prejudiceis just one of those wonderful stories that people love.
