When Sarah Snook read the script for All Her Fault, she knew she was in for something different. The Succession star, who earned widespread acclaim for her portrayal of Shiv Roy, was drawn to the Peacock drama’s emotional complexity and psychological intensity. The series, premiering November 6, follows Marissa Irvine (Snook), a successful professional and devoted mother whose world collapses when her young son goes missing after a playdate gone wrong. What begins as every parent’s worst nightmare unfolds into a layered mystery exposing long-buried secrets and the fragility of family trust.
At a recent press conference moderated by Mara Webster, Snook spoke about stepping into her first major thriller, exploring motherhood through a darker lens, and shaping the show’s identity both in front of and behind the camera.
Finding Truth in Terror
Though Sarah Snook is no stranger to emotionally charged material, she admitted that All Her Fault required a different kind of performance, one rooted in realism despite the heightened drama. “Marissa goes through so much,” Snook explained. “It’s high drama, but I wanted to make sure I was finding a way to bring the reality of the situation. What is it like to have your child go missing? That was the hardest thing, to constantly make sure we were delving down into the truthful version of this.”
While she hasn’t personally experienced such trauma, Snook said conversations with director Minky Spiro helped her connect to the character’s fear. “Minky told me she once lost her daughter for a couple of minutes in a supermarket,” Snook shared. “That white-hot fear that enters you, it’s very easy to imagine that.”
The series also explores how panic, suspicion, and grief ripple through relationships. “Everyone seems to have a finger pointed at them,” Snook noted. “But I’m not someone who jumps to conclusions. I wanted to play Marissa as someone who’s doing everything she can to stay composed in the face of chaos.”
Balancing Motherhood and Ambition
Sarah Snook, who welcomed her first child in 2023, found herself resonating deeply with the show’s themes of motherhood and identity. “It’s a full identity shift,” she reflected. “You go through this rewiring of who you are, not just to yourself, but to your partner and your child. It changes how you see your parents and the world.”
Marissa, like Snook, is ambitious and maternal, a woman determined to succeed both at home and in her career. “Often we see on screen women who are successful and child-rearing is treated like an inconvenience,” Snook said. “But Marissa wants to be present for both. The show asks, ‘Can you really have it all?’ And I think the answer is you can try, but balance is key.”
When asked if the series serves as a wake-up call for men to take on more parenting responsibility, Snook acknowledged the real-world imbalance. “Child-rearing naturally falls more on women, especially postpartum,” she said. “But men stepping up to share that load is so important. It’s something that needs to be seen more on screen.”
Creating Change Behind the Camera
In addition to starring, Snook serves as an executive producer, a role she embraced wholeheartedly. “We had a lot of robust conversations with the writers and producers about who these characters were and how their stories evolved,” she said.
Snook also used her influence to champion sustainability on set. “We ran the production in a more environmentally friendly way,” she revealed. “Reusable coffee cups, cutlery, electric vehicles, hydrogenated vegetable oil powering our trucks, it was incredible to be able to instigate that kind of change.”
The production, shot in Melbourne, was especially meaningful for the Australian actress. “It’s always nice to be working hard but sleeping in your own bed,” Snook said with a laugh. “Having my social network around me and introducing the American cast to my favorite coffee shops, it was really special.”
From Shiv Roy to Marissa Irvine
For Snook, All Her Fault marks a conscious shift from her razor-edged Succession persona. “Shiv was internally cold and very stiff,” she said. “Marissa, on the other hand, has warmth. Even though she’s going through hell, she’s a nurturing person. A lot of that came through in the costuming—knits, cozy jumpers, textures that keep that warmth alive.”
The actress added that this role allowed her to explore a side of herself audiences haven’t seen. “I wanted to play someone closer to me in terms of warmth and empathy,” she said. “Marissa wants things to go well. Bad things happen to her, but her intentions are good, that’s what makes her story compelling.”
When asked how Shiv would handle the same situation, Snook laughed. “Oh, she’d throw money at it. She’d call in every favor, every connection. It would be solved, but with no emotional growth whatsoever.”
Lessons from Fear, Friendship, and Family
Despite its tension, Sarah Snook described All Her Fault as ultimately a story about connection. “Motherhood and female friendship really stuck out to me,” she said. “It’s so nice to see women supporting each other on screen rather than competing. The characters could have turned on each other, but they choose to stick together.”
Snook hopes viewers walk away from the series with an appreciation for what truly matters. “It’s about how important family is and how much it means to people,” she said. “Finding balance in your life, being present, and knowing what your priorities are, that’s what Marissa’s journey is really about.”
As both a performer and producer, Snook expressed pride in what the All Her Fault team accomplished. “It’s hard to get things made these days,” she said. “To be able to do that in Australia, tell a meaningful story, and manage family life at the same time—that’s what I’m most proud of.”
All Her Fault premieres November 6 on Peacock.
