Sarah Snook, from HBO’s “Succession”

17th July 2020

Odds are, you know actor Sarah Snook from her role on HBO’s Succession – one of the most acclaimed TV dramas in the last decade. She plays Siobhan Roy, but to her friends and family, it’s just “Shiv.” She is the youngest child and the only daughter in an ultra-wealthy family. The patriarch, Logan Roy, is the head of a large media conglomerate, Waystar Royco. Succession is a show about … well, succession. Shiv’s brothers feud constantly hoping to be the next to lead the family empire, and at first, she’s happy to let her brothers fight it out. But like pretty much every character on Succession, it doesn’t take long for the cracks to show. Linda Holmes, the host of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour, talked with Sarah about what it’s like to play one of the most fascinating, complex and confounding characters on television today. Plus, what Sarah hopes Shiv will get to do in Succession‘s third season.

Episode notes

(Photo: Courtesy of HBO)

Sarah Snook on portraying Shiv Roy on HBO’s Succession
Odds are, you know actor Sarah Snook from her role on HBO’s Succession – one of the most acclaimed TV dramas in the last decade.

She plays Siobhan Roy, but to her friends and family, it’s just “Shiv.” She’s the youngest child and the only daughter in an ultra-wealthy family. The patriarch, Logan Roy, is the head of a large media conglomerate, Waystar Royco.

Logan Roy is aging and can’t run the company forever. Who will take over? And what are they willing to do for it?

In the first season, other members of the family fight among themselves, hoping to be the next to lead the family empire. At first, she’s happy to stay above the fray, working in politics. But that’s only at first.

Like pretty much every character on Succession, it doesn’t take long for the cracks to show: she worries that her influence in her family is the only thing that matters to her career. Her marriage is falling apart.

Linda Holmes, the host of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour, talked with Sarah about what it’s like to play one of the most fascinating, complex and confounding characters on television today. Plus, what Sarah hopes Shiv will get to do in Succession‘s third season.

In this episode...

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  • Sarah Snook

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Bullseye is a celebration of the best of arts and culture in public radio form. Host Jesse Thorn sifts the wheat from the chaff to bring you in-depth interviews with the most revered and revolutionary minds in our culture.

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Maximum Fun Production Fellow

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