In a combative interview, brian cox unleashed a string of criticisms of fellow actors and public figures, calling some performances “cobblers” and describing others as “not to my taste, ” while defending his right to speak bluntly as he promotes his new film.
What did Brian Cox say?
Cox piled into a variety of well-known figures. He called Gary Oldman’s portrayal in a Churchill biopic “cobblers” and a “crowd-pleasing farrago. ” Of Ian McKellen he said the actor’s work was “not to my taste. ” On Margot Robbie in Wuthering Heights he said she was “far too beautiful for that role. ” Quentin Tarantino was dismissed as “meretricious, ” with Cox adding that where he directs he likes “to honor the actor’s performance, ” while with a Tarantino film “what you see is all Quentin Tarantino. “
He also targeted political leadership, saying of Donald Trump: “Trump doesn’t give a shit about the people. He’s only interested in the oil [in Iran]. There’s just sheer fucking greed motivating him, nothing else. The idea he’s liberating people is a nonsense. “
Separately, Cox’s representatives said some further remarks circulated in connection with the interview were taken from his 2022 autobiography, Putting the Rabbit in the Hat, and other sources; those included a comment that he turned down a Pirates of the Caribbean role because he did not want to work with Johnny Depp.
Why do these remarks matter?
The remarks illustrate a pattern of forthright commentary that has marked Cox’s public profile in recent years. He has not shied from criticizing peers, and he acknowledged the personal cost might be uncertain: “Well, I don’t know yet if it’s caused me problems. ” He also described private pressure to moderate his tone—his wife telling him to be careful—before adding, “I’ll be 80 this year. Fuck it! I’m gonna say what I want to say. ” That combination of bluntness and self-awareness frames the comments as both a personal stance and a public performance tied to his promotional duties.
His remarks reach beyond gossip. When a respected actor characterizes other artists and high-profile directors in stark terms, it shapes conversations about craft, collaboration and the line between candid critique and professional damage.
What responses and actions followed?
After the interview, representatives clarified that several quotes associated with the conversation actually originated in Cox’s 2022 autobiography and other prior remarks. Cox continues to be active professionally: he is promoting a film he directed, Glenrothan, and has recently filmed a new series of advertisements for McDonald’s Happy Meals, having done voiceover work for the company before.
The actor also referenced earlier fallout from public comments about a co-star, saying he did not want to dwell on Jeremy Strong because Strong had “begged me to stop talking about him, ” while conceding, “He’s a good actor, Jeremy. ” That mix of apology, praise and provocation underscores the volatile mix of personal relationships and publicity in contemporary acting careers.
Back on the promotional trail, brian cox says he will continue to speak plainly even as his remarks prompt clarification and debate; whether that candor will harm or help his projects and relationships remains unresolved, leaving audiences and colleagues to watch what comes next.
