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Putting the Rabbit in the Hat: A Memoir
The incredible rags-to-riches story of acclaimed actor Brian Cox, Succession’s Logan Roy, from a troubled, working-class upbringing in Scotland to a prolific career across theatre, film and television.
From Hannibal Lecter in Manhunter to media magnate Logan Roy in HBO's Succession, Brian Cox has made his name as an actor of unparalleled distinction and versatility. We are familiar with him on screen, but few know of his extraordinary life story. Growing up in Dundee, Scotland, Cox lost his father when he was just eight years old and was brought up by his three elder sisters in the aftermath of his mother's nervous breakdowns and ultimate hospitalization. After joining the Dundee Repertory Theatre at the age of fifteen, you could say the rest is history — but that is to overlook the enormous effort that has gone into the making of the legend we know today.
Rich in emotion and meaning, with plenty of laughs along the way, this seminal autobiography captures both Cox's distinctive voice and his very soul.
From Hannibal Lecter in Manhunter to media magnate Logan Roy in HBO's Succession, Brian Cox has made his name as an actor of unparalleled distinction and versatility. We are familiar with him on screen, but few know of his extraordinary life story. Growing up in Dundee, Scotland, Cox lost his father when he was just eight years old and was brought up by his three elder sisters in the aftermath of his mother's nervous breakdowns and ultimate hospitalization. After joining the Dundee Repertory Theatre at the age of fifteen, you could say the rest is history — but that is to overlook the enormous effort that has gone into the making of the legend we know today.
Rich in emotion and meaning, with plenty of laughs along the way, this seminal autobiography captures both Cox's distinctive voice and his very soul.
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First published October 28, 2021
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About the author
Brian Cox
54 books57 followersBrian Cox CBE is a Scottish film and stage actor.
He is known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he gained recognition for his portrayal of King Lear. He has also appeared in many Hollywood productions playing parts such as Dr. Guggenheim in Rushmore and William Stryker in X2: X-Men United. He was the first actor to portray Hannibal Lecter on film in the 1986 production Manhunter.
He is known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he gained recognition for his portrayal of King Lear. He has also appeared in many Hollywood productions playing parts such as Dr. Guggenheim in Rushmore and William Stryker in X2: X-Men United. He was the first actor to portray Hannibal Lecter on film in the 1986 production Manhunter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 228 reviews
November 23, 2021
LOOK. this starts out so, so well, and then you become acutely aware that he really does have more in common with logan roy than he perhaps ought to admit (bad takes on modern culture, weirdly apologetic and sympathetic toward the behaviour of famous white men). interesting and unsurprising but...approach with caution(?!)
December 24, 2021
Just a hugely enjoyable book to read. Cox’s style is engaging and unfussy, and it strikes the right balance between serious meditation on the craft of acting and conspiratorial —but not uncharitable— whispers about himself and those who populate the field he works in. There’s a big career to take in and, of course, it’s disappointing that everything can’t be covered (the lack of Adaptation, Rushmore and even Super Troopers are the sticking points for me) but the bulk of his career is accounted for from Steven Seagal to Lynn Redgrave, and Fulton Mackay to Kieran Culkin. It’s clear that his recall is fantastic and there’s never a sense that he doesn’t remember every single thing, emotional or factually — even if the odd minor embellishment seems par for the course in summarising 73 years. Early family life is well accounted for and his family becomes somewhat of a sticking point that drifts in and out of his story, reflective of ways that he readily acknowledges as failings. Naturally, it’s mostly told chronologically but there’s joy to be had in protracted asides when he feels the moment is right or teases of things to come; all of which serves the purpose of keeping it entertaining and illuminating, which is all you can ask of it.
November 8, 2021
It’s like reading the transcript of a long indiscreet interview. The strengths of Cox’s memoir are his frank and often astute assessments of an array of the actors and directors he has worked with. His story of his own motivations and values and behaviour is mildly critical but much more self-serving – glossing over the many affairs and marriages with much younger women and his flaws as a father, and reporting his many acting triumphs in detail and at length. References to Succession thread through the book and give it a contemporary interest. Here again he has some astute observations of acting styles and strengths of his fellow cast members, but his soft and very forgiving view of himself is evident in his claim that he agreed to do it when the writer said that love for his children was his character’s main motive. But its a good gossipy read for people like me who go to a lot of theatre and watch a lot of films - I'd really rate it about 3.5 stars.
May 15, 2023
Brian Cox was saved by films. He had a somewhat grim childhood even by Dundee standards. Born in 1946, the youngest of five children from a working-class Catholic family, tragedy struck early on. Cox was eight when his kindly father died of stomach cancer. His frail Mum, scarred by five births and five miscarriages, would suddenly vanish for weeks on end, frequently leaving Cox in his unmarried sister’s care. He remembers the night he returned home to find Mum with her head in the oven. Her hurried excuse (‘it is a hell of a duty’) set him on the road to realisation: ‘knowing what had caused the already fragile vessel to smash but not really knowing what to do with the shards.’
Unsurprisingly, his favourite boyhood game was Lone Wolf (hide and seek). He became so good that having found a perfect hiding place, he once stayed there until 1 a.m. It seems he acquired an early talent for absence. It led him to films and perhaps underlies his wide range as an actor. Dundee had twenty-one cinemas and soon Cox was a regular at all of them, often devouring eight films in a week. If he liked the film enough, he would stay in the cinema to watch it again, only to drop off to sleep and later fumble his way home in the tram-lined dark. American films were his favourites: the twee, middle-class British films of the day never delivered the same thrills as A Streetcar Named Desire or East of Eden. British films were simply too distant from his world to resonate.
Then, one afternoon, he saw Albert Finney in Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, and the impact changed him ‘at a cellular level.’ That working-class life could be the subject of art hit him with the force of revelation - ‘proper, eye-opening stuff...a transformative moment.’ From then on, he knew exactly what he had to do with his life.
If the English Midlands stoked the urge to act, it also gave Cox his first big break when the Birmingham Rep offered to sign him up. He recalls the sage advice of Sir Laurence Olivier, who also started his career there: ‘Oh, well then, what the f*** are you doing here? I can tell you now that you’ll only understudy here.’ Soon Cox married his wife in the city’s registry office, holding the registration at the Albany Hotel. Everyone from the Rep turned out for the occasion, led by the young Michael Gambon. Despite an early start, and the fact they were due to appear in an afternoon performance of Othello, the cast proceeded to get well and truly plastered.
Booze seems to fuel the actors’ life. Most of Cox’s stories, some funny only in retrospect, dwell at length on the demon drink. Male actors - John Hurt, Richard Burton - seem more prone than others, perhaps dogged by the suspicion of effeminacy and dodging ‘real’ work. The male ego seems a likelier explanation, and the worst specimens on display are all raging egomaniacs. These tales make up the book’s liveliest parts and, if there’s any justice, these will be the most quoted by readers. Cox, while never cruel, insists on telling the truth, even when his candour is blunter than a block of granite. Reputation offers no protection. Michael Caine’s status as a national institution works against him - ‘being an institution will always beat having range.’ Edward Norton is ‘a pain in the arse’; director Michael Caton-Jones ‘a complete arsehole’. Gary Oldman’s film Darkest Hour is ‘cobblers...a crowd-pleasing farrago.’ Canny film-goers, of course, will recall that Cox also starred as Churchill that year to far less fanfare. This, he avers, was the second instance of The Brian Cox Curse: he plays a role, then another actor reaps bigger rewards playing the same part later. As noted in a thousand pub quizzes, the first case was when Cox played Hannibal Lecter (spelled ‘Lecktor’ for copyright reasons) in Manhunter. ‘Nuff said.
Reading on, one gets a powerful sense of the acting life's sheer randomness. I doubt many other actors have played Agamemnon, Captain Ahab, King Lear, Goering, Trotsky, Stalin, J. Edgar Hoover and tried to wipe out the X-Men. He was also hired (and fired) as the voice of Aslan, and turned down the Governor’s role in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. There is much here and there about Cox’s acclaimed role in Succession, which I have yet to watch. Though some may find his memoir too digressive and freewheeling, that’s to say it sounds more like speech than writing, which is high praise indeed.
Not to be missed.
Unsurprisingly, his favourite boyhood game was Lone Wolf (hide and seek). He became so good that having found a perfect hiding place, he once stayed there until 1 a.m. It seems he acquired an early talent for absence. It led him to films and perhaps underlies his wide range as an actor. Dundee had twenty-one cinemas and soon Cox was a regular at all of them, often devouring eight films in a week. If he liked the film enough, he would stay in the cinema to watch it again, only to drop off to sleep and later fumble his way home in the tram-lined dark. American films were his favourites: the twee, middle-class British films of the day never delivered the same thrills as A Streetcar Named Desire or East of Eden. British films were simply too distant from his world to resonate.
Then, one afternoon, he saw Albert Finney in Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, and the impact changed him ‘at a cellular level.’ That working-class life could be the subject of art hit him with the force of revelation - ‘proper, eye-opening stuff...a transformative moment.’ From then on, he knew exactly what he had to do with his life.
If the English Midlands stoked the urge to act, it also gave Cox his first big break when the Birmingham Rep offered to sign him up. He recalls the sage advice of Sir Laurence Olivier, who also started his career there: ‘Oh, well then, what the f*** are you doing here? I can tell you now that you’ll only understudy here.’ Soon Cox married his wife in the city’s registry office, holding the registration at the Albany Hotel. Everyone from the Rep turned out for the occasion, led by the young Michael Gambon. Despite an early start, and the fact they were due to appear in an afternoon performance of Othello, the cast proceeded to get well and truly plastered.
Booze seems to fuel the actors’ life. Most of Cox’s stories, some funny only in retrospect, dwell at length on the demon drink. Male actors - John Hurt, Richard Burton - seem more prone than others, perhaps dogged by the suspicion of effeminacy and dodging ‘real’ work. The male ego seems a likelier explanation, and the worst specimens on display are all raging egomaniacs. These tales make up the book’s liveliest parts and, if there’s any justice, these will be the most quoted by readers. Cox, while never cruel, insists on telling the truth, even when his candour is blunter than a block of granite. Reputation offers no protection. Michael Caine’s status as a national institution works against him - ‘being an institution will always beat having range.’ Edward Norton is ‘a pain in the arse’; director Michael Caton-Jones ‘a complete arsehole’. Gary Oldman’s film Darkest Hour is ‘cobblers...a crowd-pleasing farrago.’ Canny film-goers, of course, will recall that Cox also starred as Churchill that year to far less fanfare. This, he avers, was the second instance of The Brian Cox Curse: he plays a role, then another actor reaps bigger rewards playing the same part later. As noted in a thousand pub quizzes, the first case was when Cox played Hannibal Lecter (spelled ‘Lecktor’ for copyright reasons) in Manhunter. ‘Nuff said.
Reading on, one gets a powerful sense of the acting life's sheer randomness. I doubt many other actors have played Agamemnon, Captain Ahab, King Lear, Goering, Trotsky, Stalin, J. Edgar Hoover and tried to wipe out the X-Men. He was also hired (and fired) as the voice of Aslan, and turned down the Governor’s role in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. There is much here and there about Cox’s acclaimed role in Succession, which I have yet to watch. Though some may find his memoir too digressive and freewheeling, that’s to say it sounds more like speech than writing, which is high praise indeed.
Not to be missed.
June 4, 2023
Reflections and lessons learned/the content of this book made me feel…
“I’ve ended up playing a number of real life figures in my time. Asked if I’ve researched them, I stick to the script, as the script is where you’ll find that character… I’ve worked steadily, project after project for 6 decades, and honestly there just isn’t the time to read extensively around every real life character that I’ve ever played…”
Cox, B (no, not that one) has one of those faces that’s just so familiar from so many films. I couldn’t have named the characters necessarily, but has been present and memorable as a stalwart of the industry. In this book he’s understandably not shy about the impact of the current tv hit of Succession, but this is a book about acting - a love of performance, a passion for the multiple platforms of the industry, a good gossip (almost wonderfully indiscreet in places!) about some key names and players. Not always a saint, but aware of his faults, he’s got from role to role with grit and a can do attitude. He could have been so much more of a luvvie (and I think that he stayed unusually restrained on his politics, although they’re not wholly absent here either!), but thankfully he’s managed to keep a sense of perspective whilst still putting the concept of acting on a pedestal - hard not to admire that
“I’ve ended up playing a number of real life figures in my time. Asked if I’ve researched them, I stick to the script, as the script is where you’ll find that character… I’ve worked steadily, project after project for 6 decades, and honestly there just isn’t the time to read extensively around every real life character that I’ve ever played…”
Cox, B (no, not that one) has one of those faces that’s just so familiar from so many films. I couldn’t have named the characters necessarily, but has been present and memorable as a stalwart of the industry. In this book he’s understandably not shy about the impact of the current tv hit of Succession, but this is a book about acting - a love of performance, a passion for the multiple platforms of the industry, a good gossip (almost wonderfully indiscreet in places!) about some key names and players. Not always a saint, but aware of his faults, he’s got from role to role with grit and a can do attitude. He could have been so much more of a luvvie (and I think that he stayed unusually restrained on his politics, although they’re not wholly absent here either!), but thankfully he’s managed to keep a sense of perspective whilst still putting the concept of acting on a pedestal - hard not to admire that
May 16, 2022
When I learned that Brian Cox was to publish a memoir, I knew I wanted to read it. I have always enjoyed his roles in his movies like Red, The Rookie & Rob Roy but I had only heard of the show Succession and knew nothing of it so I was surprised that so many reviews compared Brian Cox to his character, Logan Roy. Before reading this book, I watched 1/2 of season 1 of Succession to see what this was all about. Brian Cox may have some Logan Roy in him but learning about his upbringing in Scotland to where his career led him is fascinating. He’s a bit of a name dropper and perhaps somewhat of a braggart which made his story really enjoyable! He opens up about the love of his family, his fellow actors & his fight for Scotland’s independence. It was interesting to read his perspective on his acting style both on screen and stage. Now I want to find all of his old films that he wrote about.
December 6, 2022
The timeline of events in his life is scattershot at best but the anecodotes and especially, his blunt sincerity are what make this rewarding (...and educational when it comes to the craft of acting). He is also self-critical of himself as he is of the celebrities he scathingly criticizes, so the book feels like a balanced account from an opinionated veteran actor who has earned the right to say as he pleases. To me the most insightful part of the book is his stories of meeting the luminaries of the British theatre (Gielgud, Olivier ect.).
January 29, 2022
So it’s no secret I’ve got a bit of a celebrity memoir habit. I read a LOT of memoirs. So I was really looking forward to this one by Logan Roy-playing Brian Cox because some of the early press on it suggested it contained an unfiltered stream of conscious on everybody from his Succession co-stars to his impoverished Scottish family. Sadly, the best bits made it into the presser. This book reads like a slightly padded CV of every job he’s ever had with none of the self-reflection I’ve come to expect from this genre. I kept at it, however, even if Cox doesn’t seem particularly likable in real life, partially because he’s had such a rich career as a character actor and when he’s not being a raging narcissist - about every 50 pages - there are some interesting tidbits. This book made me really happy I’m not obliged to spend more time in a room with white heterosexual men of a certain age.
January 8, 2022
Brilliant book, and coming from a superb actor like Cox, as entertaining to read for the anecdotes as for his self-deprecating humor--most of it sounding damn free of false self-modesty. Or, if there is any, Cox is too good an actor (and writer) to leak any. It's especially helpful a book to working actors discovering their own flaws/merits and entering new phases of their careers. And the recommended book and film and philosophy citings comprised a huge list for me. Lastly, having memorized the "speak the speech" monologue from Hamlet, Cox's observances resonate for me in their interpretations of Shakespeare and how important it is to not be a "robustious, periwig-pated fellow, tearing a passion to tatters."
February 15, 2024
Closer to 3.5. He’s very dedicated to his craft. That discussion was interesting and will make me think of theater and movies differently. His family seemed like an afterthought and he glossed over many of the mistakes he made as a husband/father.
March 30, 2022
Even though I've seen him in a million things. I didn't know much about Brian Cox. He tells interesting stories and has had some truly remarkable experiences, but he comes off as unlikeable, which was a bummer. I really wanted to like him, but after seeing him excuse his 6th or 7th affair on his myriad wives as "concentrating too much on his career," he kind of loses any trace of likeability. The book is decently written, just far too long and self-indulgent (even for a memoir) to be anything more than 3 stars for me.
December 18, 2022
What a staggering case of lack of self-awareness. This is a memoir that doesn’t need an editor, it needs a psychiatrist. So many times the author identifies negative qualities in others, denies those qualities in himself, then goes on to narrate stories where he portrays the epitome of the negative quality. And then he categorically abdicates from fatherhood, but justifies that by saying his ex-wife is a great mother. I walked away feeling Cox is Roy.
March 6, 2022
A solid 3 and a half, didn't realise quite how much theatre work he has done. But that's also what can make it seem more like a list of what where and with who, often people I've never heard of and sometimes lacking in anything else interesting happening.
Read
June 3, 2022going to stop pretending i’ll ever finish this bc i really can’t stand that man and i’m done with my succession yay!logan roy phase
February 10, 2022
For the record, I cannot get into Succession. I have tried three times.
I think this works best as an audio.
Cox's book about his career, largely about his career and some about his personal life, is at once touching, funny, and at times, an older actor seemingly struggling to reconcile professional co-workers with what has come out about them.
To be fair, he does seem to be honest about his own mistakes and issues as well.
And I will say it, he is right about Johnny Depp.
There is a touching story about Natasha Richardson.
The book is quite linear in layout (and the Audible edition I was listening to put chapter 14 after chapter 21 so it was a bit confusing for a bit).
But he is a good oral storyteller He also has a good point about the writing for film and tv.
I think this works best as an audio.
Cox's book about his career, largely about his career and some about his personal life, is at once touching, funny, and at times, an older actor seemingly struggling to reconcile professional co-workers with what has come out about them.
To be fair, he does seem to be honest about his own mistakes and issues as well.
And I will say it, he is right about Johnny Depp.
There is a touching story about Natasha Richardson.
The book is quite linear in layout (and the Audible edition I was listening to put chapter 14 after chapter 21 so it was a bit confusing for a bit).
But he is a good oral storyteller He also has a good point about the writing for film and tv.
May 31, 2022
I enjoyed it for the most part. Almost the entire book (except the first bit that quickly covered his childhood) is theater and film stories and that is exactly what i wanted so thumbs up! If you are looking for a detailed account about Succession, this is not the book. He mentions it a few times but not in detail at any point. He has worked a lot and there is a lot of ground to cover so this is basically the highlights. That is not a complaint. I loved it! It was a touch too long but thumbs up!
October 1, 2022
Absolutely wonderful. Easily one of the best memoirs I've consumed. Brian's narration is beyond good, and he speaks to you the listener, not just reading words on the page.
Also SPOILER ALERT! He shreds Steven Segal right at the outset of the book. I knew I would love it from that moment on 😀
Also SPOILER ALERT! He shreds Steven Segal right at the outset of the book. I knew I would love it from that moment on 😀
April 6, 2022
Nice memoir. A little name-droppy. I’ve seen some reviews on here that criticize him for not being hard enough on himself about his relationship issues and misbehaviors. I think it’s alright that he doesn’t wallow in his failures; he mentions them and doesn’t blame anyone else for them. This is more a reflection that he doesn’t say much about his family at all. He gives largely broad strokes and highlights of his personal life, and primarily sticks to stories related to his professional life once he gets his first theater job as a teen. So this book really only lets us know a part of Brian Cox, but maybe not the whole picture. It does read like something he likely wrote himself - the writing is good, not great, and has a distinctiveness about it instead of a generic ghostwriter feel. No mention of Super Troopers, alas.
May 9, 2022
As a Washington Post subscriber, I was given the chance to receive this book free. All I had to do was register online and be one of the first 200 to do so. I registered within 30 seconds after receiving the email from the Post. Apparently, I wasn’t fast enough. Hmmmmmmmmm. I think something is little fishy. The end result was me canceling my subscription to the newspaper and I told them I wouldn’t subscribe unless I was charged $10 for a one year subscription. Well, it took a month and 1/2 but they relented.
In regards to the book, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed reading this book. I had no idea who Brian Cox was. I saw him in the movie Red and Troy, but that was the extent of my knowledge. The book traces his life from beginning until present. Although a lot of the book has to do with British Theater. However, there was quite a few comical anecdotes.
In regards to the book, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed reading this book. I had no idea who Brian Cox was. I saw him in the movie Red and Troy, but that was the extent of my knowledge. The book traces his life from beginning until present. Although a lot of the book has to do with British Theater. However, there was quite a few comical anecdotes.
July 18, 2022
3.75 / I listened to the long audio narrated by the author, which he does well and entertainingly. He seems to go from talking about one production he's done to another. I had no idea he had been in so many plays and movies. Apparently he's been in everything (or at least 100s of productions), but what I mostly remember him for is his part as the father in Succession and as Churchill in the movie from 2017. He's a talented actor. But I wonder if readers are trying to figure out if he is Like the mean father he plays in Succession. I didn't exactly get that sense in the book. He seemed pretty good natured recounting his life, his family, and giving tips on acting and life lessons. But I still wonder if he has some prima donna about him. Still his bluntness on a range of topics and his fellow actors made it seem a bit of a rare actor memoir.
March 24, 2022
Aw, F*#k off!
If you want Bryan Cox talking in your ear for 12 hours, this is the audiobook for you. Yes, he narrates the audiobook version of his memoir.
Do you want him talking about anything particularly interesting? Oh well.
It starts off strong with a vicious take on Steven Seagal. That was kind of the highlight. We do discover that there is a lot of Mr. Cox in Logan Roy.
If you want Bryan Cox talking in your ear for 12 hours, this is the audiobook for you. Yes, he narrates the audiobook version of his memoir.
Do you want him talking about anything particularly interesting? Oh well.
It starts off strong with a vicious take on Steven Seagal. That was kind of the highlight. We do discover that there is a lot of Mr. Cox in Logan Roy.
January 23, 2022
By the time I first saw Scottish actor Brian Cox on stage, I had probably seen him in a number of character roles in films and had never noticed him. When I saw him in the 5 hour Broadway production of “Strange Interlude in the winter of 1985, I was transfixed by everything he did on that stage with co-star Glenda Jackson, and vowed never to forget his name. What I didn’t realize then, was his long stage career in Scotland and England, working with greats the likes of Olivier, Finney, and Gielgud. These days, as billionaire Logan Roy on HBO’s “Succession”, everyone knows who Brian Cox is, and notice him, but know very little about the actor’s life. Born in Dundee, Scotland in 1946, Cox grew up enraptured by the movies, where he could take in as many as 8 films a week, there being 21 movie houses where he lived. He became an apprentice at a local theatre at the age of 15 and knew in his bones this is what he wanted to do. And he’s been doing it for the last 60 years. In that time, I’ve seen him onstage here in NYC in everything he’s done-“Rat In The Skull”, St. Nicholas”, “Art”, and “The Great Society”. I relish seeing him in whatever medium he appears.
He is a very persuasive and direct storyteller, and you can imagine him speaking in that deep Scottish burr as you read. He’s also very opinionated on a whole range of topics, from other actors to politics.
Of Steven Seagal-“(He’s) as ludicrous in real life as he is on screen. Seagal suffers from that Trump syndrome of thinking himself far more capable and talented than he actually is...”
Of Michael Caine-“an institution. And being an institution will always beat having range”.
Of Johnny Depp-“so overblown, so overrated “.
Of Kevin Spacey-“a great talent, but a stupid, stupid man”.
He also has savage takedowns of various people like Margaret Thatcher, Quentin Tarantino, Princess Margaret, and a number of directors he’s worked with.
His praise, though, throughout the book, for those he admires is effusive. Michael Gambon, Paul Scofield, Nigel Terry, John Osborne, and others too many to mention.
This is a very entertaining read for anyone who relishes tales of theatre, both endearing and catastrophic, shooting a movie, with all its comforts and horrors, and of raising a family, and sometimes failing at that. One lovely bonus in this book for me was discovering Brian’s son Alan played young Dr. Watson in the much-admired “Young Sherlock Holmes”, directed by Barry Levinson, which remains one of my favorite 80s films.
In other words, if you only know Brian Cox as Logan Roy, this probably isn’t the book for you. But if you want straight shooting from a master of his craft, go for it.
He is a very persuasive and direct storyteller, and you can imagine him speaking in that deep Scottish burr as you read. He’s also very opinionated on a whole range of topics, from other actors to politics.
Of Steven Seagal-“(He’s) as ludicrous in real life as he is on screen. Seagal suffers from that Trump syndrome of thinking himself far more capable and talented than he actually is...”
Of Michael Caine-“an institution. And being an institution will always beat having range”.
Of Johnny Depp-“so overblown, so overrated “.
Of Kevin Spacey-“a great talent, but a stupid, stupid man”.
He also has savage takedowns of various people like Margaret Thatcher, Quentin Tarantino, Princess Margaret, and a number of directors he’s worked with.
His praise, though, throughout the book, for those he admires is effusive. Michael Gambon, Paul Scofield, Nigel Terry, John Osborne, and others too many to mention.
This is a very entertaining read for anyone who relishes tales of theatre, both endearing and catastrophic, shooting a movie, with all its comforts and horrors, and of raising a family, and sometimes failing at that. One lovely bonus in this book for me was discovering Brian’s son Alan played young Dr. Watson in the much-admired “Young Sherlock Holmes”, directed by Barry Levinson, which remains one of my favorite 80s films.
In other words, if you only know Brian Cox as Logan Roy, this probably isn’t the book for you. But if you want straight shooting from a master of his craft, go for it.
June 15, 2023
Incredibly distinct and engaging voice. Probably one of the easiest-to-read memoirs I've come across. Cox transitions seamlessly across episodes from his life, jumping into little asides, rants, witty political and social commentary, and downright outrageous stories about the many characters with whom he's crossed paths during his life on the stage/set (looking at you, Michael Gambon). Funnily enough, Cox seems to carry a bit of the crotchety persona of his most famous character in his real life, but I would happily sit and listen to him tell stories for hours at a time.
"The human experience can be labeled as...disappointing. But as a species, we are, at times, exceedingly vulnerable. Our vulnerability lies in the inability to understand life and its purpose. We hunt for the tools to make sense of it all: religion, science, politics, sport, the theatre. We explore and search for meaning by discovering new worlds and climbing mountains, and a great many of us find tremendous solace and comfort in these activities, but the one thing that is absolutely certain is that we are born and that we will die. The rest is propaganda."
"So much has been said about the Iron Lady, both good and bad, but personally I'm grateful to her as the catalyst for my political coming of age. She and I have one thing in common: we are both the children of grocers. But there the similarity ends. Ultimately she was a force of devastation who destroyed British industry and laid waste to communities that to this day have never recovered..."
"And dear God, don't let Michael Gambon do the eulogy."
"The human experience can be labeled as...disappointing. But as a species, we are, at times, exceedingly vulnerable. Our vulnerability lies in the inability to understand life and its purpose. We hunt for the tools to make sense of it all: religion, science, politics, sport, the theatre. We explore and search for meaning by discovering new worlds and climbing mountains, and a great many of us find tremendous solace and comfort in these activities, but the one thing that is absolutely certain is that we are born and that we will die. The rest is propaganda."
"So much has been said about the Iron Lady, both good and bad, but personally I'm grateful to her as the catalyst for my political coming of age. She and I have one thing in common: we are both the children of grocers. But there the similarity ends. Ultimately she was a force of devastation who destroyed British industry and laid waste to communities that to this day have never recovered..."
"And dear God, don't let Michael Gambon do the eulogy."
September 8, 2022
If this book weren’t so lewd and filled with detailed discussions of nudity and marital affairs, I likely would have enjoyed it much better.
I was able to enjoy some of the anecdotes, and it was interesting learning more about one of my favorite actors. I particularly liked the portions of the book that took place in the actor’s country of origin as well as the behind-the-scenes look at a few of the films I’ve enjoyed over the years. The anecdote of how Mr. Cox got his name was my favorite one, actually, and when I shared it with my whole family, we all enjoyed that little tidbit.
The author did a wonderful job narrating his book for the audio version. I loved hearing his delightful Scottish accent. That was a great consolation for having to listen to the detailed accounts of the muckiest, most sinful portions of his life. It was not a shocker that he performed beautifully; in all the films I’ve ever seen him in, the same could be said. But it was a delight to hear that wonderful accent for the hours it took to listen to this book.
Content: miscarriages, drunkenness, alcohol, profanity, expletives, sexual perversion, Catholicism, derogatory term, crude sexual terms and discussions, tobacco, violence, suicide attempts, marital affairs, drugs, nudity, lewd productions (stage plays involving nudity, etc.)
I was able to enjoy some of the anecdotes, and it was interesting learning more about one of my favorite actors. I particularly liked the portions of the book that took place in the actor’s country of origin as well as the behind-the-scenes look at a few of the films I’ve enjoyed over the years. The anecdote of how Mr. Cox got his name was my favorite one, actually, and when I shared it with my whole family, we all enjoyed that little tidbit.
The author did a wonderful job narrating his book for the audio version. I loved hearing his delightful Scottish accent. That was a great consolation for having to listen to the detailed accounts of the muckiest, most sinful portions of his life. It was not a shocker that he performed beautifully; in all the films I’ve ever seen him in, the same could be said. But it was a delight to hear that wonderful accent for the hours it took to listen to this book.
Content: miscarriages, drunkenness, alcohol, profanity, expletives, sexual perversion, Catholicism, derogatory term, crude sexual terms and discussions, tobacco, violence, suicide attempts, marital affairs, drugs, nudity, lewd productions (stage plays involving nudity, etc.)
January 24, 2023
Veteran actor of stage, television, and films gives us his memoir. Among his hundreds of roles have been the first Hannibal Lecter in Michael Mann's "Manhunter," William Stryker in "X2: X-Men United," Agamemnon in "Troy," Churchill in "Churchill (2017)," Magnus Ben in "Shetland," Ivan Simonov in "Red," and "Red 2," Dennis in "The Day Of The Triffids (TV series)," Mr. Kreeg in "Trick 'r Treat," Melvin Belli in "Zodiac," Jack Langrishe in "Deadwood,", Ward Abbott in "The Bourne Supremacy," and "The Bourne Identity," Chief Hatfield in "Kiss The Girls," Nathan in "The Long Kiss Goodnight," Argyle Wallace in "Braveheart," Killearn in "Rob Roy," and of course Logan Roy in the acclaimed TV series "Succession". An interesting and readable exploration of a long and distinguished career which includes stage work with the likes of Sir John Gielgud, Gemma Jones, Judy Dench, Ian Charleson, Fiona Shaw, Alun Armstrong, Ian McKellen, Julie Waters, and many others, not to mention his work as a teacher and director. - BH.
December 20, 2024
As a huge succession fan who bumped into Brian Cox in Primrose Hill earlier this year, I was super stoked to read (or rather listen to) his memoir, especially as he had an uncanny resemblance to his character Logan Roy irl… boy, was I let down.
Overall sentiment was Meh, felt like mans was just cramming surface level details about every single play/movie/show he’d been in, with no real substance about his own story!!!
Disappointing snooze fest, I came away from this feeling like he’s a terrible person (multiple wives, affairs, almost missing his daughters birth, poor father only realising his daughter was anorexic when she was on death’s door), and yaps too much about his co-stars.. the only upside was the final two chapters, quite sentimental and he gets an extra star for wrapping up nicely!
Overall sentiment was Meh, felt like mans was just cramming surface level details about every single play/movie/show he’d been in, with no real substance about his own story!!!
Disappointing snooze fest, I came away from this feeling like he’s a terrible person (multiple wives, affairs, almost missing his daughters birth, poor father only realising his daughter was anorexic when she was on death’s door), and yaps too much about his co-stars.. the only upside was the final two chapters, quite sentimental and he gets an extra star for wrapping up nicely!
January 16, 2022
Fascinatingly blunt and does live up to the fun quotes that poured out in the previews and early reviews. A real pleasure to read not just because Brian Cox has had an interesting career but because he doesn't want to boast about it. He is happier with this theatre work than the great performances he provided on screen. Cox admits his misgivings and his wrongdoings, his frank and honest opinions on this actor or that director, this stage or that moment in life, are rewarding. He speaks straight to the reader, involves them in the throes of his personal and professional life and writes it well enough to make for a thoroughly engaging bit of autobiographical content.
March 28, 2022
Brilliant! Brian Cox's memoir is excellent in every way. Not least, because it is a master class, diving into and explaining many aspects of the art and craft of acting. I enjoyed every page and was sad when it ended.
Frank Rich in his Foreward says this: "How Brian ended up collaborating with so eclectic a cast of characters over the ensuing half-century is deliciously told in these pages and illuminated with his spicy cameos of the whole sprawling ensemble." A propos of which, see his anecdote about Steven Seagal in the Prologue, another LOL moment.
I'm sorry to say I'm not that familiar with Cox's many performances on stage and screen (both big and small), just goes to show his avowed purpose of letting the character speak for himself has been successful.
Many stories are LOL funny, for example, his description of playing a sex scene (without clothing) with Kate Nelligan in the TV drama "Therese Raquin."
Frank Rich in his Foreward says this: "How Brian ended up collaborating with so eclectic a cast of characters over the ensuing half-century is deliciously told in these pages and illuminated with his spicy cameos of the whole sprawling ensemble." A propos of which, see his anecdote about Steven Seagal in the Prologue, another LOL moment.
I'm sorry to say I'm not that familiar with Cox's many performances on stage and screen (both big and small), just goes to show his avowed purpose of letting the character speak for himself has been successful.
Many stories are LOL funny, for example, his description of playing a sex scene (without clothing) with Kate Nelligan in the TV drama "Therese Raquin."
May 21, 2022
An interesting read as there were repeated experiences and thoughts we shared and many insights into the unique experiences of a professional actor, director, etc. A well written narration of a life including encounters with many people inhabiting my imagination through their work in film in particular.
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January 21, 2022lold at the 'it seems that everybody in this book is either dead or cancelled' line because yeah... it is just like that.
anyways the excerpts from this circulating in the media make it look like he's a certified hater who disses everyone he has ever worked with but he's actually quite reasonable about that.
anyways the excerpts from this circulating in the media make it look like he's a certified hater who disses everyone he has ever worked with but he's actually quite reasonable about that.
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