Severance on Apple TV+ has certainly made waves, and its lead actor, Adam Scott, has been reflecting on his journey with the show, especially the anxiety he felt when it first came out. Speaking on Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast, Scott opened up about the overwhelming experience of seeing his face on billboards around town. Despite the excitement of finally getting a role in a high-profile project after 30 years of working in Hollywood, he admits it was a bit freaky. He said, “‘Comforting’ is a perfect word for it,” acknowledging that while it should have felt like a monumental achievement, it actually triggered some anxiety.
Scott went on to share some heartfelt moments with Severance director and executive producer Ben Stiller, who helped him through his nervousness. According to Scott, Stiller, who has had his fair share of experience in the industry, reassured him and helped him manage his anxiety about the show. Stiller’s support made a difference during those uncertain moments, as Scott was unsure about how the audience would react to the show.
Scott was concerned that the show, which delves into the eerie world of corporate culture and human experimentation, could end up being seen as embarrassing. While the cast and crew loved the show, there was always that fear that the audience might not connect with it the way they hoped. Scott even admitted that it could have become “this big, embarrassing thing,” a worry that plagued him until the series started to garner attention.
In Severance, Scott plays Mark Scout, a man who leads a team at Lumon Industries, a company where employees undergo a disturbing procedure called “severance,” which separates their work and personal lives in extreme ways. The show’s unique premise and Scott’s portrayal of Mark have earned widespread acclaim, but the journey to this success had its share of anxieties for him along the way.