Brian Cox: A History of His Most Brutal Celebrity Insults

Actor Brian Cox has established a reputation for unfiltered commentary regarding his peers in the film and television industry. In an interview with The Times UK, the Succession star defended his frankness, stating that as he reaches the age of 80 in 2026, he no longer feels the need to be careful with his words.

During the discussion with The Times UK, Cox directed criticism toward several figures. He mocked the accent of Margot Robbie and described the actress as too beautiful. He also labeled director Michael Caton-Jones a complete arsehole and referred to writer-director David Hare as a see you next Tuesday.

Critiques in Putting the Rabbit in the Hat

Much of Cox’s most pointed commentary appears in his 2021 memoir, Putting the Rabbit in the Hat. In the book, the Scottish actor provides detailed assessments of several A-list celebrities, often distinguishing between their professional talent and their personal conduct.

Kevin Spacey, with whom Cox starred in the 1994 film Iron Will, was described as a great talent, but a stupid, stupid man. While acknowledging Spacey’s skill as an actor, Cox noted that his performance style could be a little bit flashy at times and a little bit glib.

Cox also targeted Edward Norton, his co-star in the 2002 Spike Lee film 25th Hour. While describing Norton as a nice lad, Cox called him a pain in the arse because of Norton’s aspirations as a writer-director.

The Rejection of the Pirates of the Caribbean Role

One of the most detailed critiques in Cox’s memoir is directed at Johnny Depp. Cox’s negative view of Depp’s acting began with the 1990 film Edward Scissorhands. Cox argued that the combination of pale, scarred-face makeup and scissor blades for hands meant the actor didn’t have to do anything to be effective.

Let’s face it, if you come on with hands like that and pale, scarred-face makeup, you don’t have to do anything. And he didn’t. And subsequently, he’s done even less.

Putting the Rabbit in the Hat

These views influenced Cox’s professional decisions a decade later. In 2003, Cox turned down the role of Governor Swann in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, a part eventually played by Jonathan Pryce. Cox stated in his memoir that he viewed the role as the most thankless in the film and expressed relief that he did not have to work with Depp, whom he described as so overblown, so overrated.

Additional Industry Observations

Cox’s critiques extend to other Academy Award winners and esteemed veterans of the stage and screen. He described the performances of Ian McKellen as not to my taste.

He was particularly critical of Gary Oldman’s performance in the Winston Churchill biopic Darkest Hour. Despite Oldman winning the Oscar for best actor for the role, Cox dismissed the performance as cobblers—a Scottish term for nonsense—and described it as a crowd-pleasing farrago.

Within his own recent production, Succession, Cox has not spared his co-stars. He previously told The Guardian that he found the method acting of Jeremy Strong to be annoying.

Further extending his critiques to modern cinema, Cox expressed that he was unimpressed by Joaquin Phoenix, specifically citing Phoenix’s work in the 2023 biopic Napoleon.

When asked if this pattern of public griping has negatively impacted his personal life or career, Cox noted that while his wife has advised him to be careful, he has decided to prioritize saying what he wants.