Kieran Culkin reflects on 'Succession' and his least favourite aspect of fatherhood with Domingo

Kieran Culkin opens up about his approach to acting, latest film, and family for Variety's 'Actors on Actors'.

Kieran Culkin, widely acclaimed for his role in Succession, recently opened up about his experiences on the hit series, his thoughts on fatherhood, and his latest film, A Real Pain, in a candid discussion with Colman Domingo.

In the conversation, Culkin reflected on his time playing Roman Roy on Succession, highlighting the camaraderie he shared with castmates. He fondly recalled working with Sarah Snook, who he named as his favorite scene partner. “She’s my son’s godmother and one of my favorite people in the world,” Culkin shared, adding that their bond extended beyond the show.

Discussing fatherhood, Culkin revealed his deep love for the role, though he admitted, “Absolutely everything [about fatherhood is great] except dinner time.” For him, being a dad has redefined his priorities. “It feels like nothing else matters. I’m a dad now, and my only role in life is that. That’s real life.”

Culkin also touched on his new film, A Real Pain, directed by Jesse Eisenberg. The film follows two cousins exploring their family’s Holocaust history in Poland. Culkin plays Benji, a troubled character prone to emotional outbursts. “I made a point not to plan,” he said of his approach to the role, adding, “Let’s find out what the scene is by doing it.”

The discussion also ventured into the art of acting, with Culkin expressing his dislike for actors referring to themselves as “storytellers.” Domingo echoed the sentiment by stating that “We’re not storytellers. We’re servants of the story". Culkin and Domingo’s shared passion for their craft also culminated in a mutual desire to collaborate. “Let’s work together, man,” Culkin said, to which Domingo replied, “I’d like that".