Legendary actor Brian Cox once described himself to Terry Wogan as being a Mick-Mac. And he confirmed this… unusual self-description when asked about it on Wednesday's Ryan Tubridy Show. Born in Dundee, Scotland, of Irish immigrant stock, the actor told Ryan that he has a complicated relationship with Britain, as he has huge admiration for Queen Elizabeth, but he thinks that the monarchy should be put out to pasture once she's done her time. And feudalism is a big part of British society – still – that Brian Cox would love to see the back of too:

"It won't happen in my lifetime, alas, but I'd love to see it change, I'd love to see it shift to a form of egalitarianism."

Although, he clarifies, if the US is the shining example of egalitarianism, then that's not working either, as Cox tells Ryan that the "money class" stands apart from the regular people and can do whatever it likes. And that can be very clearly seen during the current pandemic. Maybe the way to go is the Scottish way, as Brian says he's very impressed by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon:

"Scotland – particularly under the leadership of Nicola Sturgeon – has a real kind of egalitarian feel. I'm very proud of the Scots. They're really doing an amazing job, especially during this crisis."

Brian Cox has been acting for over 50 years and he's made his mark in many films and TV programmes through the years. Among the stand-outs – and there are many – are Manhunter (playing Hannibal Lector), Braveheart, the X-Men franchise, the Bourne series, Churchill and, of course, Succession. Ryan asked Brian what he thought when he first read the part of Logan Roy in the script for Succession.

"I knew that this was something remarkable. I mean, [creator] Jesse Armstrong is a bit of a genius actually, I think. A remarkable writer. I'd put him on the level of [NYPD Blue and Deadwood creator] David Milch as a creator."

In his long career, Cox has always, as he described it to Ryan, "bobbed and weaved", doing a lot of independent films and TV, as well as occasional blockbusters. And people have often told him that he hasn't had his just desserts. Thanks to Succession and Cox’s Golden Globe-winning performance as the patriarch of the Roy family, that's finally changed:

"I feel I've had my just desserts now and that's courtesy of Logan Roy."

The discussion then veers from Logan Roy's conservative nihilism to Jeremy Corbyn:

"He has the charisma of a failed geography teacher, but his policies are excellent."

Boris Johnson:

"The clown of Eton has no policies whatsoever."

As well as, of course, Donald Trump:

"It's clear that the man is missing a top layer."

(And that's more or less the politest thing he had to say about the US president.) Cox lives in upstate New York and has a lot of respect for the governor there, Andrew Cuomo.

"I think this is what we need. We need someone who just tells it like it is."

Well, Brian Cox is certainly someone who tells it like it is and the full conversation with Ryan is available here – it is, like the man himself, honest, compelling and funny.

Niall Ó Sioradáin