Jeremy Strong on Playing Mark Zuckerberg and Other Unpopular Characters

Oct 2, 2026 29 min

About this episode

In Aaron Sorkin’s latest film, “The Social Reckoning,” the Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg deals with multiple federal investigations and a whistle-blower’s revelations about the damage that the company was causing young people. It’s a dark sequel to the 2010 film, “The Social Network,” and, this time around, Zuckerberg is played by Jeremy Strong, who’s best known as Kendall Roy on “Succession” and as Roy Cohn in “The Apprentice.” Strong undergoes an unusually intense level of preparation to inhabit his roles; he tells David Remnick that he would send Sorkin e-mails, while in character as Zuckerberg, at night after shooting. They discuss why Strong was rankled by The New Yorker’s 2021 Profile of him, and his interest in playing characters who are “right on the fault line of everything that’s going on in our world right now.” Further reading:<ul><li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/12/13/on-succession-jeremy-strong-doesnt-get-the-joke#rid=a73cbcde-13d5-4e5e-9be8-258e2e3a26c9&q=jeremy+strong" rel="noopener noreferrer">On ‘Succession,’ Jeremy Strong Doesn’t Get the Joke</a>,” by Michael Schulman</li><li>“ ‘<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/springsteen-deliver-me-from-nowhere-tamps-the-boss-down#rid=a73cbcde-13d5-4e5e-9be8-258e2e3a26c9&q=jeremy+strong" rel="noopener noreferrer">Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere’ Tamps the Boss Down</a>,” by Richard Brody</li><li>“ ‘<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/the-apprentice-reviewed-the-immoral-makings-of-donald-trump#rid=a73cbcde-13d5-4e5e-9be8-258e2e3a26c9&q=jeremy+strong" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Apprentice,’ Reviewed: The Immoral Makings of Donald Trump</a>,” by Richard Brody</li><li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/04/01/an-enemy-of-the-people-theatre-review#rid=a73cbcde-13d5-4e5e-9be8-258e2e3a26c9&q=jeremy+strong" rel="noopener noreferrer">Masterstroke Casting in ‘An Enemy of the People</a>,’ ” by Vinson Cunningham</li><li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/farewell-kendall-roy-succession#rid=a73cbcde-13d5-4e5e-9be8-258e2e3a26c9&q=jeremy+strong" rel="noopener noreferrer">Farewell, Kendall Roy</a>,” by Michael Schulman</li></ul> New episodes of The New Yorker Radio Hour drop every Tuesday and Friday. Join host David Remnick as he discusses the latest in politics, news, and current events in conversation with political leaders, newsmakers, innovators, New Yorker staff writers, authors, actors, and musicians. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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