Succession's Jesse Armstrong says he still struggles with imposter syndrome

Jesse Armstrong told Radio 4's Desert Island Discs that he still experiences imposter syndrome despite Succession's awards, and he described both the energising moments of a writers' room and the lows of working alone.

Jesse Armstrong spoke on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs about his ongoing experience with imposter syndrome and the ups and downs of writing. He noted that Succession finished in 2023 after four seasons and received multiple accolades, including nine Golden Globes. Armstrong described the energy of a successful writers' room and contrasted it with the solitary struggles of drafting alone. He also said he kept a professional distance from the cast while writing the series finale. Reported details: - Armstrong, 54, said when a writers' room is working well "it's like you're walking on the moon," and described moments when ideas from everyone feel "veined with gold." - He said he can have very good solo writing sessions but also fears he might be a "really bad writer" because others do not see earlier weak drafts. - He described imposter syndrome as a persistent inability to feel one's success is deserved and said many good writers he knows share deep self-doubt. - He gave a rough sense of his internal balance, saying he often feels about 70% negative and 10–30% confident when facing a project. - Armstrong said he maintained a respectful distance from actors while writing the finale; actor Brian Cox separately commented that his character Logan Roy was killed off "too early" and praised co-star Kieran Culkin. Summary: Armstrong's comments highlight that professional recognition does not necessarily remove private doubts and that collaborative writing can produce intense creative highs alongside persistent uncertainty. The remarks also shed light on his working methods and relationships during Succession's production. Undetermined at this time.