Inside Brian Cox's health as Succession star admits to 'fantasising about death'

Brian Cox admitted he "fantasises" about death and has imagined the possible ways he could die. The Scottish actor, 79, stated that he doesn't find his thoughts on death depressing, but simply wonders how he will meet his demise. Speaking to The Guardian, he said: "Yes, [I think about death] all the time. I have a fantasy every night about how I'm going to die. I don't think about it in a depressing way. I just think of all the possible scenarios."

When asked about his "favourite" scenario, Brian said: "Going without fuss, wrapped up in bed with a cup of tea, maybe with the telly on." Brian's acting career has spanned more than six decades, with standout roles in hit films like Troy, Braveheart, and Manhunter. However, he experienced a remarkable resurgence in his seventies thanks to the global success of HBO's Succession. Brian picked up a Golden Globe and an Emmy award for his portrayal of the brash CEO Logan Roy, a role he played from 2018 to 2023.

Despite showing no signs of slowing down, the star was forced to postpone his upcoming national tour earlier this month because he has been "very busy" and it was "too soon".

His 18-date one-man show, It's All About Me!, was due to launch on 1 October at the Royal & Derngate Theatre in Northampton. However, Brian confessed he was "tired" of the amount of work he has already done this year and decided to reschedule.

"I just thought 'I'll do it some time', [October is] just too soon," he told BBC Newscast. "It's been very busy and I just thought 'I can't be doing it."

He has been performing in Make It Happen, a play about the rise and fall of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), staged in Edinburgh, and is set to take his new film Glenrothan - his directorial debut - to Toronto Film Festival next month. Brian is a proud ambassador for Alzheimer's Research UK and earlier this year, joined a campaign to raise funds to speed up the search for a cure.

The actor has been open about his personal experiences with the disease, which claimed the life of his older brother, Charlie. Although he believes he will also succumb to the disease, Brian has vowed to continue acting for as long as he can.

He said: "I will go on until I drop. You sort of wind down slowly and eventually, dementia will get me. Then it will be nice to say, 'Well I can't do it anymore'.

"I am hoping I can keep dementia at bay for a bit longer. I mean look at me I'm not old, I am a spring chicken, and I look quite well for my age. I think I look amazing for my age."

Back in February, Brian revealed that he takes Ozempic for his type two diabetes. The dad-of-four gave the candid insight into his health during an appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show.

When the presenter complimented his slimmed down look, Brian responded: "I know because... Ozempic. No, it's true. I am a diabetic and Ozempic is for diabetics, it is not for fat people."

While Ozempic is a treatment for type two diabetes, it is also used by many to help aid weight loss. During the same interview, Brian revealed he credits Laurence Olivier for saving his life.

In October 1965, he was due to fly from Edinburgh to London for an interview with the famed actor and director, but didn't make the journey after he cancelled.

Brian revealed this saved his life as the plane he was scheduled to board later crashed while landing at London Heathrow Airport, killing all 36 people on board.