Jeremy Strong: Seeking Soul and Truth on Cannes Jury
The acclaimed “Succession” actor reflects on cinema’s importance and his role on the prestigious festival jury
As the 78th Cannes Film Festival unfolds along the sun-drenched French Riviera, Jeremy Strong sits at the pinnacle of world cinema as a member of this year’s distinguished jury. The Emmy-winning actor, best known for his intense portrayal of Kendall Roy in HBO’s “Succession,” brings his thoughtful perspective to the panel tasked with selecting the recipient of the coveted Palme d’Or.
“It’s an incredible honor,” Strong says, his trademark intensity evident even in casual conversation. “Cannes is the highest mountain in cinema, and this is sort of the top of the mountain. I feel humbled and very inspired to be in the company of this very distinguished jury.”
Strong’s journey to the Cannes jury represents a full-circle moment. “The first time I was here was with the great American filmmaker James Gray,” he recalls. “All of those firsts—coming up to the Palais and being in the cinema, watching the film with that audience—it’s a feeling of arrival. Being in Cannes, it’s a dream to be here as an actor and, of course, as a jury member.”
For Strong, the responsibility of serving on the jury feels profound, particularly in our current cultural moment. “We’re living in a time where truth is an endangered species—fake news and alternative facts and a gradual sort of dehumanization through technology. The role of film and the arts is more critical than ever.”
When evaluating the competing films, Strong brings his actor’s sensibility to the screening room. “I think it’s probably hard to articulate, but as an actor—and I imagine as a filmmaker—you, as Shakespeare says in King Lear, ‘see feelingly.’ You’re seeing with your feelings.” He pauses, searching for the right words. “Ezra Pound called it the ‘belly mind.’ So I think as an actor, that’s the mind you’re using, not this mind,” he says, pointing to his head, “but the belly mind. And I think that’s how I watch films—for their visceral immediacy and emotive power.”
Asked what qualities he’s looking for in a potential Palme d’Or winner, Strong is clear: “I’m most interested in films that have a cohesion of vision and form, but also—and this is not a very popular word these days—a soul. That’s certainly what I’m looking for.”
Beyond his jury duties, Strong appears energised by his recent work, particularly a forthcoming biopic about Bruce Springsteen. “I recently finished a film with Scott Cooper, a great American director, called ‘Deliver Me from Nowhere,’ which is a movie about Bruce’s life, a moment when he was in his early 30s, in the early 1980s. That was a kind of inflexion point in his artistic and spiritual life.”
In the film, Strong portrays Jon Landau, Springsteen’s long-time producer, manager, and confidant. “I was playing Jon Landau, who is Bruce’s mentor, producer, manager, best friend, and sort of partner in crime for the past 50 years. They have a relationship that’s really unprecedented in the history of music. And now in their late 70s, they’re still, you know, like this,” he says, crossing his fingers tightly. “It’s in a way a love story between these friends. I have very high hopes for that film. I had a deep, deep experience making it.”
As our conversation concludes, Strong returns to the significance of being in Cannes, not just as a celebrated actor but as someone entrusted with honoring cinema’s highest achievements. “Our life is the preparation, our devotion to our art forms throughout our entire lives. It’s a significant responsibility, a weighty responsibility,” he reflects. “It’s just an immeasurable honor.”
The Cannes Film Festival continues through May 24, with the jury’s selections to be announced at the closing ceremony.
Editor in Chief of Ikon London Magazine, journalist, film producer and founder of The DAFTA Film Awards (The DAFTAs).
