‘Succession’ star Matthew Macfadyen on the show’s 18 Emmy nominations, season 3 status

Most actors found out about their Emmy nominations this morning, but for London Succession star Matthew Macfadyen, the good news arrived in the afternoon.

As he was about to go shopping, he learned he received his very first Emmy nomination, one of 18 nominations the HBO drama garnered on Tuesday morning. Macfadyen has spent the last few months in London with his wife and two children as he awaits word of the series’ third season, which was due to begin filming in April before being pushed indefinitely.

The Hollywood Reporter caught up with the actor, who plays Tom Wambsgans in the family drama, to hear how he held up during quarantine, his celebration plans, and how he imagines the Roy family would handle a pandemic like this: “Tom and Greg them two would be terrible, terrible asymptomatic super-spreaders. “

Congratulations on the nomination. What were you doing when you found out?

Thank you. I was about to go to the supermarket. Not very glamorous, but it’s the truth. And then I got a really good call from my agent and my agent in the US and they all said congratulations. It was lovely.

Where did you spend your quarantine?

I am at home in London. We have been here. We spent a few weeks in the countryside. We rented a cottage and got away a bit – but mostly went to London. We were very lucky. We have a garden and a house, so we are not too locked together. Our teenagers didn’t kill themselves and we didn’t kill them. It was quite nice to take a break from life.

How are you in London? Hope better than in the United States?

Yeah I think so. Masks are now mandatory in stores, restaurants and more. Where I am is sort of a suburb of London, so it’s very busy and there is a lot of life. People distance themselves as much as they can and wear masks. But central London is very strange. It is very sad and calm.

Have you ever talked to anyone else about the nominations on the show?

There were a few texts that came and went. It’s really gratifying that so many of us have been nominated, because it’s such a great ensemble cast.

The show managed to rack up 18 nominations in total.

Eighteen? Sensational. I did not know that. It’s brilliant.

You were about to shoot the third season when the pandemic hit the United States. Where are things now?

I do not know. We were supposed to start at the end of April. They’re hoping to start in the fall, I guess, but I know a lot of shows kind of slip through January. I think it changes from week to week – or day to day, really. Restrictions are put in and then removed, so there are things you can and cannot do. So producers have to make some very tough decisions about whether to start or not, and whether they’ll be screwed halfway through the shoot if something else happens. Besides, I wouldn’t be able to put on the show the way you want, so it’s tricky. But fingers crossed. I really miss it.

Where were you supposed to film?

We were going to be in New York. But there’s no point in starting if we can’t do it safely. It won’t be fun if the cast and crew get sick and everyone has to stop again.

How do you think the Roy family would handle a pandemic like this?

I have the impression that it would be like a fly in their ointment. Maybe Tom would become the super-spreader and infect most of the Waystars. I imagine Tom and Greg would both be terrible asymptomatic super-spreaders. But I think Logan would be protected, maybe in a bunker somewhere in Geneva.

With the Emmys going virtual this year, if you were to make an appearance during the show, which room of your home would you choose to be in?

I know this sounds ungrateful, but I hope I never do a Zoom again. Having to rearrange the curtains behind your head… even an Emmy on Zoom ceremony is just a little weird to me. But I would probably be in the same old place. I think I would dress, you know. I think I would honor the occasion and make an effort.

What is your favorite Zoom spot?

Yeah, in the study. I share a study with my wife and we sit across from each other at the desk. But I think my office has the best background, so she kicks me out whenever she needs to.

Is there a shelf in the background?

No, he doesn’t have any books. It has curtains and a picture and a mirror. But no books. We have books in the house.

Well, that’s reassuring.

But not in the study. Our books are in the living room, in a different place. So I escaped all this sort of book rage. The book hates.

There is a lot of people showing off their books in their zooms.

Yeah, it seems to really make people worse. I think it’s cool. Why not?

What’s the best part about not having to worry about a red carpet?

It’s the terribly sweaty and fearful boredom you feel at an awards ceremony. It’s half terror, half dreadful boredom. Because they leave forever. And if you’re up for something, you’re excited but nervous. But after three hours, you just want to kill yourself. It all sounds terribly unsightly, but it’s the truth and anyone who tells you differently is a liar.

Most people had a little extra time to catch up on shows and movies during their forties. What was your favorite binge watch during this time?

My wife and I really got into the old real crime streak, like The staircase and The Jinx. Actually, we’ve watched a lot of documentaries – more than dramas or comedies or whatever. We watched the McDonald’s documentary, we watched the Michael Jordan documentary. And I read a lot.

Books that stand out?

I read a lovely from an author named Pat Barker called The silence of the girls, which is just amazing. I keep thinking, “Oh my god, I hope they don’t complete the lockdown so that I can actually read the books I wanted to read or watch the TV shows I wanted to watch.” [Laughs.] We also watched movies we hadn’t seen from last year, like Can you forgive me? Things like that that I missed.

What part of stage life surprises you the most?

Apart from the artisan service, I miss people. I miss jokes, chatting and working with people. The truth is, being an actor is being with other people. It’s a collective thing. You are telling a story and this is not a solo show. It’s really exciting for me, so we can start over soon.

How do you plan to celebrate your appointment?

What am I going to do? I’m going to vacuum the house. I find that very satisfying. I heard that Stanley Tucci also does a lot of vacuuming, so I’m in good company.