Jesse Armstrong, the celebrated creator of the hit HBO drama Succession, has spoken candidly about battling feelings of being a fraud, despite the show's monumental critical and awards success.
The Creative Highs and Lows of a Writers' Room
Speaking to Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, the 55-year-old screenwriter described the exhilarating collaborative process when a writers' room clicks. "When a writers' room is working well, it's like you're walking on the moon," Armstrong revealed. He elaborated that it frees writers from solitary struggles, creating a dynamic where ideas flow freely and "everything's veined with gold."
However, Armstrong contrasted this with the difficulty of writing alone when inspiration falters. He admitted that past success offers little comfort, stating the pressure to replicate it becomes "another rod for your back." The Oscar-nominated writer, also known for Peep Show and In The Loop, emphasised that audiences only see the final product, not the numerous flawed drafts.
Awards Success Fails to Silence Self-Doubt
Armstrong's credentials are impeccable. His series, Succession, which concluded in 2023 after its fourth series, is one of the most decorated shows in recent television history. It secured 19 Emmy Awards, including the top prize for outstanding drama series, and nine Golden Globes.
Yet, these accolades have not shielded him from impostor syndrome. "All the good writers I know that I've ever met are riddled with self-doubt," he confessed. Armstrong estimated that he often begins a project with a 70% feeling that it will be a disaster and expose him as a fraud. The crucial balance, he suggested, comes from a smaller, 10-30% belief that the project could be great if executed perfectly.
Learning to Live with Creative Uncertainty
The writer shared that experience has taught him to manage these conflicting emotions. "I think maybe that little bit of confidence that you know that that's how it feels, maybe that grows in you," he reflected. A key lesson has been recognising that the pervasive negative feelings are not necessarily an accurate reflection of reality or the quality of his work.
The full interview with Jesse Armstrong on Desert Island Discs is available on BBC Sounds and will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday at 10am.
