Interview: Sarah Snook on how Shiv has changed through the seasons and the shocking twists and turns of ‘Succession’ [VIDEO]

There’s currently some family in Adelaide, South Australia, who are doing double takes when they watch an episode of Succession, wondering if the actress playing Shiv Roy was also the fairy at their child’s birthday party years ago, which also happened to be Sarah Snook’s first paying job. Snook grew up in the suburb of Eden Hill. Her mother was a caregiver, and her father was a pool salesman. Her talents shined early, leading to her winning a scholarship to Scotch College in Torrens Park. That wouldn’t be the end of her journey. 

The Emmy-nominated actress’s journey would find her at Sydney’s National Institute of Dramatic Arts, where she performed in many productions but shone brightly in Macbeth and Gallipoli. Who knew that her work at NIDA would later pay off while going toe to toe with the likes of Brian Cox, who has quite a theater background?  

Snook got her break in film in 2012 in Not Suitable for Children but her big break came when she landed the role of Siobhan “Shiv” Roy on Succession. Her work on the show has earned critical acclaim. She’s won the Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Television Award on top of being nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. She’s certainly come a long way since working at children’s birthday parties. 

It should come as no surprise that Snook’s work on Succession has earned her another nomination after a season which arguably was her finest to date. We were lucky enough to have an in depth discussion with Snook about her process playing Shiv. How does she keep track of everything that has happened to her character? Do those moments influence her choices as an actor currently? Which member of the cast is it the hardest to get through a scene with? Snook was incredibly forthcoming and after speaking with her, I gained deep appreciation for what she brings to this phenomenal show. 

Sarah Snook is Emmy-nominated in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for the episode “Chiantishire” of Succession, which is currently available to stream on HBO Max.