Sarah Snook, the talented star of the acclaimed series "Succession," has recently revealed her inspiration drawn from pop icon Taylor Swift while preparing for her theatrical role. In an interview with The New Yorker published on Sunday, March 16, 2025, Snook shared insight into her rigorous preparation for her stage performance in the adaptation of Oscar Wilde's classic novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which is set to run on Broadway until June 15, 2025.
Snook is facing a monumental task in this production, portraying all 26 characters in the play. To tackle this intense workload, she adopted a training regimen reminiscent of Swift's routine during the preparation for the singer's highly successful Eras Tour. Snook disclosed, "No alcohol, no caffeine. Sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep. And I do my lines at pace on a treadmill, you know," highlighting both the discipline required and the innovative methods she embraced.
When questioned about the similarities between her workouts and those of Swift, who had previously shared her own grueling preparation routine, Snook responded, "I heard that and thought, 'That's a genius idea. I'm gonna do that.'" Her determination is also fueled by her life as a new mother; Snook began performing the play when her daughter was just six months old. The demands of motherhood have instilled a new level of responsibility and health consciousness in her.
In her remarks, Snook noted, "It's valuing sleep, needing to keep nutrition up, because she's taking a lot of it from breastfeeding. Keeping myself healthy for being a new mom also kept myself healthy for doing this marathon." The intense schedules of performance and motherhood mean that the actor must maintain a strict lifestyle to thrive both on and off the stage.
Snook elaborated on the challenges of balancing her responsibilities, saying, "Otherwise, it's very easy to go, 'Had a big night tonight. Yeah, I'll have a drink. Yeah, I'll have a glass of wine.' And then you're going to bed at five and sleeping until three. With a baby, you cannot do that." This approach undoubtedly sets a strict framework for her time management and self-care.
On her journey into Broadway, Snook’s performance in The Picture of Dorian Gray follows a successful run that began in the early months of 2024 on London’s West End. For the production on Broadway, Snook has embraced her adaptability, embodying the variety of characters with nuance and depth, which is not only a testament to her talent but also her commitment to shaping the role through personal experience.
Taylor Swift, meanwhile, also deserves recognition for her own dedication. In an interview with Time back in 2023, Swift described her rigorous training approach before embarking on her Eras Tour. "Every day I would run on the treadmill, singing the entire set list out loud," Swift shared, detailing how she incorporated both cardio and strength routines for optimal stage performance. The dedication paid off, leading to the tour grossing over $2 billion when it concluded in December of 2023, making it a landmark achievement in the concert industry.
Sarah Snook's story is one of determination and innovation in the performing arts. By blending influences from her own life as a mother and the tireless work ethic of a fellow artist like Taylor Swift, she has devised a strategy that not only prepares her for a demanding role but also ensures her personal health and responsibility as a new parent. Snook's commitment extends beyond the theater, showcasing her ability to draw from various aspects of her life to fuel her passion for acting, while keeping her family life healthy and balanced.
In this era of high expectations from both audiences and artists, it is stories like Snook's that inspire countless others, illustrating the multifaceted nature of performance and personal growth.
A representative for Snook did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours. As she continues her remarkable run on Broadway, her fans will surely be eager to see how this creative journey unfolds.
