The celebrated creator behind the hit HBO drama Succession has spoken candidly about battling feelings of being a fraud, despite the show's monumental critical success. Jesse Armstrong, the award-winning screenwriter, revealed his ongoing struggles with impostor syndrome during an appearance on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs with host Lauren Laverne.
The 'Moon Walk' of a Writers' Room
Armstrong, 55, who also co-wrote the Oscar-nominated film In The Loop and won Baftas for Peep Show, described the unique alchemy of a collaborative writing environment. He likened a well-functioning writers' room to 'walking on the moon', a place of creative freedom and discovery.
'You're suddenly released from the thing that could take you a week to figure out at your desk on your own,' he explained. 'You're suddenly bounding around and picking up rocks and everything's veined with gold... it can feel quite magical.' This contrasted sharply with the isolation and difficulty of writing alone, where the pressure to match past successes can become a 'rod for your back'.
Accolades Have Not Silenced Self-Doubt
Despite the overwhelming acclaim for his work, Armstrong admitted that self-doubt is a constant companion. Succession concluded in 2023 after four series, having secured a staggering 19 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series, and nine Golden Globes.
'All the good writers I know that I've ever met are riddled with self-doubt and lack of certainty about whether what they've just done is good,' he told the programme. He described entering projects with a 70% fear of disaster and exposure as a fraud, balanced by a smaller, crucial percentage of belief that the work could be great.
A Common Creative Burden
Armstrong's reflections highlight a paradox familiar in creative industries: external validation does not necessarily quell internal insecurity. He suggested that learning to manage these negative feelings is part of a writer's journey, noting that 'knowing that the negative feelings are not necessarily true' is a hard-won insight.
The writer, who brought the ruthless Roy family and media tycoon Logan Roy (played by Brian Cox) to life, emphasised that audiences only see the final product, not the numerous flawed drafts. 'You don't know how possible it is for me to be a really bad writer,' he quipped, underscoring the hidden labour and uncertainty behind celebrated work.
The full interview with Jesse Armstrong on Desert Island Discs is available on BBC Sounds and aired on BBC Radio 4.
