Do you now have any insights into politics as a result of playing Connor?



RUCK No, I don’t. I’m woefully out of touch with what’s really going on. I’m an older guy with small children and my wife is a very busy actress. So I watch whatever she’s doing and then I watch Pixar or DreamWorks, and then I try to sleep. So I have a vague notion of what’s going on, but mostly I just wish the [expletive] could get it together, and stop bickering and just be like, [claps hands] “She’s it, let’s go.” Anyway, I’m woefully uneducated.

There are sometimes moments where we look to the rich, the powerful and the successful for inspiration. Evidently we are not in one of those moments right now. What happened?



COX I think there’s a death throe that’s going on, which is that white, essentially male, dinosaurs are in a death throe. We really are. We’re done. We’re out of here. And so there’s a sneaking element of that running through the show: You kill the old guy because he represents the old order, and it’s awful and his fault. That’s what’s so interesting about this show, and it’s so reflective of the now. We’re in the age of diversity — by the way, we didn’t do it, but we should have announced our preferred pronouns before we started this meeting. My son had to do that the other day, at a read-through of play. He had to say, “I am him/his/he.” Exhausting. Anyway. That’s where we are.

Viewers have become especially fond of your co-stars Matthew Macfadyen, who plays Shiv’s hapless husband, Tom, and Nicholas Braun, who plays gangly Cousin Greg. What can you tell us about them?

SNOOK I’m really lucky that I get to work with Matthew.

CULKIN I get a little jealous of that sometimes. Matthew is the only one that I sometimes feel guilty about, like when I have to shout at him, “[expletive] you, Tom,” and then it’s cut — “Sorry, Matthew.” He’s the most lovely guy in the world.

STRONG He’s a powerhouse, and Nick Braun is a powerhouse.

CULKIN Nick Braun can’t help but be funny. I invited him over to a party, years ago, and within about 15 minutes of him being there, everyone was surrounding him. He just has a thing —

COX It’s called the Maypole Principle. [laughter]

CULKIN But I notice everybody flirts with him, of any size, shape, gender, whatever.

STRONG He is magnetic. He’s a big hit.

Who should ultimately get control of Waystar Royco?



CULKIN [clears throat.] Roman.



COX The one who should get it is the one who deserves it.



SNOOK Ah.



RUCK Nicely played.



CULKIN Roman.



STRONG Given the circumstances, I’m a bit out of the race. This character certainly had wanted that for his whole life. But I think, like in one of those Formula 500 races, the car just flamed out.



SNOOK Maybe whoever does worst at Royco deserves it.