Even the brilliant mind behind the critically acclaimed show Succession feels like a fraud sometimes? Yes, you read that right. Jesse Armstrong, the award-winning creator of the HBO hit, has openly confessed to struggling with impostor syndrome, a feeling of inadequacy despite evident success. It's a stark reminder that even those at the pinnacle of their profession grapple with self-doubt.
Armstrong, the creative force behind Succession, which captivated audiences with its portrayal of a ruthless media dynasty led by Brian Cox as the formidable Logan Roy, isn't a stranger to success. Beyond Succession, his resume boasts an Oscar nomination for co-writing In The Loop, the film spin-off of The Thick of It, alongside Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, and Tony Roche. He's also a multiple TV Bafta winner for his work on the beloved British sitcom Peep Show. So, how can someone so accomplished feel like they're not good enough?
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs with Lauren Laverne, Armstrong, 55, described the collaborative magic of a writers' room when it's firing on all cylinders. "When a writers’ room is working well, it’s like you’re walking on the moon," he explained. "You’re suddenly released from the thing that could take you a week to figure out at your desk on your own." He painted a vivid picture of creative synergy: "You’re suddenly bounding around and picking up rocks and everything’s veined with gold and it’s like you can have these golden moments of the ideas coming from everyone and you’re all on the same wavelength and it can feel quite magical."
But here's where it gets controversial... Armstrong also shed light on the darker side of the writing process. He admitted that the pressure to replicate past successes can be crushing. "You can get really good days and hours working writing alone, but when it’s not working and you feel you’re not going to equal the best version of the thing you’re trying to make, I would find that very, very difficult." He elaborated, saying, "The theoretically consoling idea that ‘oh, it’ll be all right because you’ve done it before’, actually becomes another rod for your back." It's a sentiment many creatives can relate to – the fear that past triumphs set an impossibly high bar. And this is the part most people miss...Armstrong poignantly added, "You don’t know how possible it is for me to be a really bad writer because you don’t see all these drafts where it’s really bad."
Succession, a show celebrated for its sharp writing and compelling characters, amassed an impressive collection of accolades during its run, including 19 Emmys (including Outstanding Drama Series) and nine Golden Globes. The series concluded its fourth and final season in 2023, leaving a void in the landscape of prestige television.
Despite the widespread acclaim, Armstrong remains grounded and surprisingly candid about his insecurities. "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 revealed. He further explained the inner turmoil, "I think you go in maybe with this 70% feeling that it’s like: ‘Oh, this is going to be a disaster and I’m going to be exposed as the fraud I always thought I was all along’."
However, Armstrong also offered a glimmer of hope and a strategy for managing self-doubt. He stated, "You need that 10 to 20% – if you’re lucky, 30% – feeling of: ‘If I could do the version of this which I think it should be, it could be really great’." He suggests that recognizing and nurturing that small spark of confidence is key. "I think maybe that little bit of confidence that you know that that’s how it feels, maybe that grows in you. Also, knowing that the negative feelings are not necessarily true."
The full Desert Island Discs interview is available on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 4, offering a deeper dive into Armstrong's creative process and personal reflections.
So, what do you think? Is impostor syndrome an inevitable part of the creative process? Is it even necessary to drive artists to push themselves? Or is it a harmful voice that should be silenced? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
