Succession star Sarah Snook has revealed why she initially rejected for the part of Shiv Roy.
This HBO series revolves around the potent Roy family, well-known for their control of the biggest entertainment and media firm worldwide. Their world turns upside down after their dad Logan is forced to retire from the company, and they have to battle for control of the empire of his father.
Since the show’s debut in the year 2018 Snook has been playing the role of a political strategist Shiv who is Logan’s sole daughter. But, she recently admitted that she initially refused the part.
“When I first got offered the role, I said no, because of that,” she told Variety. “If the world is going to be interested in a bunch of white dudes talking about business, and if I’m the only woman in that, then I’m likely to get sidelined and be like some sort of prop.
“I don’t feel like that personally, nor do I feel like I want to compete for that. No, I don’t want to do this job.”
When she was offered the role again, though, Snook decided to put her faith in creator Jesse Armstrong’s talented team of writers.
“Through blind faith, I thought: ‘Well, the creatives are interesting’,” she continued. “You may be one of the only women in the pilot, but that doesn’t mean that you’re going to get sidelined necessarily and maybe this is an opportunity for you to just fight for female characters.”
Snook added: “There’s a focus lens toward that kind of sexism. It is present in the show because it’s present in real life, it’s there, and that’s inherent in the characters’ behaviour, as well as the things they say.”
Despite her initial reservations about playing the character, Snook has received critical acclaim for her work, including a Golden Globe Award and a Critics’ Choice Television Award, as well as nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
