Few television roles are as complex as Siobhan Roy. Across the four seasons of HBO's Succession, Shiv was arguably the most duplicitous of a cast of the most duplicitous characters: it's no coincidence her nickname doubles as a term for a knife made in dire circumstances.
That viewers could empathise with her is credit to Australian actor Sarah Snook, who is nominated for Best/Most Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at both the upcoming Golden Globes and Emmy Awards.
The US dramedy, created by Jesse Armstrong and airing from 2018 to 2023, followed the ever-shifting alliances and power-struggles of the Roy family, as aging patriarch Logan Roy (Brian Cox) faces stepping down from multi-million conglomerate Waystar RoyCo.
*Spoilers for Succession follow*
As Roy's sole daughter Shiv is oft-overlooked and rarely taken seriously as a contender: when power does present itself, she plays her cards prematurely time and time again — a desperation that only proves to others why they discounted her.
But her sharp tongue and readiness to back-stab family members and even nominate her husband for jail time come from a place of self-defence.
Snook's ability to convey Shiv's warped mixture of doggedness, resentment, anger and resignation in mere pauses and glances is stunning.
Kendall and Roman's embarrassing moments are much more pronounced (rapping, rocket explosion): Shiv's are quieter, more devastating.
Its final season is something of a victory lap for both Snook and Succession, which has broken both Emmy and Golden Globe records for the most nominations for a single show, at 27 and 9 nominations respectively.
While its leading (Cox, Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin) and supporting (Nicholas Braun, Matthew Macfadyen, Alan Ruck, Alexander Skarsgård) men will go tête-à-tête for trophies, Snook is the sole Lead Actress nominated for Succession.
Ahead of the Golden Globes ceremony on January 8, let's look back at Snook's finest moments as Shiv Roy, exploring why Snook has wowed audiences across the globe for her layered, sweary, and hilarious-heartbreaking performance over the years.
'I'm Shiv f*cking Roy'. Season 1, Episode 10
Throughout season one, it's pretty clear Shiv isn't excited for her wedding — even before she cheats on fiance Tom (Macfadyen) with former flame Nate. Less clear are her morals: when we meet Shiv, she's distanced herself from her family's conservative empire, working in politics for Bernie Sanders stand-in Gil Eavis.
On her wedding day, she reveals herself again and again, and her speech betrays a lack of love ("You're a good guy, Wambsgans"). Instead, she's most electric when talking with Nate mid-wedding about her latest power-move, more in love with the idea of herself as a major player.
Nate's astounded by her amorality, with Shiv having signed Eavis up to silence on allegations of systemic sexual assault cover ups at Waystar RoyCo in exchange for kinder coverage. When he asks "Who are you?" she says, "I'm Shiv f*cking Roy", vibrating with false power. (Her plan doesn't work, fyi.)
It's both awe-inspiring and incredibly immature, attempting to depict white-collar corporate corruption as an inspiring action movie triumph.
It's a testament to Snook that there's bootleg merch with the line: Nate's right to find it repulsive, but Shiv's determination almost sells it as a bad-ass girlboss moment.
Shiv tries to bluff Logan. Season 2, Episode 1
Shiv's failed poker face is one of Succession's underrated comedic touches: we continually see her smirk up a scheme before composing herself, completely oblivious that everyone caught the moment. This scene, where Logan lures Shiv away from politics by dangling the title of CEO in front of her, lets us see how Shiv thinks she's playing her cards right, even though it's clear Logan's in control.
In Shiv's head, she's nailing it with her subtle, almost rehearsed movements and lines, like crossing her arms oh-so casually when she attesting doesn't care about the company, before leaning forward and offering an entire restructure plan supposedly "off the dome".
But it all falls when Logan offers her CEO — she tries to play coy, saying "I don't think I'm the right person", but she's chewing her thumb like a small child.
When he taunts her by pretending to Tweet out his plans to sell right then and there, she collapses into sullen teen, leaping from the couch to snatch his phone and yell: "Don't be a f*cking jerk, Dad!"
Speaking to Variety, Armstrong said Snook's skill is to make Shiv "100 per cent gold, cast-iron real — while also letting the audience infer that this person was not to be taken at her own estimation".
Or, in other words, "she's not as smart as she thinks she is".
This scene's a perfect example, though you can't help but feel for her that a glimmer of approval is all it takes to fold.
Dance the night away. Season 3, Episode 7
This one's a brief but perfect moment. During Kendall's OTT birthday party, a down-and-out Shiv lets loose on the dancefloor, thrashing her body around. "She's just getting the demons out, I guess", Greg says as kindly as possible, while Roman teases that "it looks like a cry for help".
The Roys are far from perfect — or even particularly good people. Their private jets and multi-million deals might be far removed from most of our lives, but we can all relate to getting a little too loose and finding release.
There's also something distinctly Australian about Shiv's moves: at the least, they're very Renata Bliss.
That phone call. Season 4, Episode 3
While Snook has won a Golden Globe for Shiv before, it was as a Supporting Actress: Season 4 marks a considerable step up for the character, with Snook, now nominated as a Lead Actress, taking centre-stage in some of the most heartbreaking moments of the show, including Logan's sudden death.
When Logan passes while the rest of the family are on a boat for Connor's wedding, Roman and Kendall get to say goodbye over the phone, but Shiv is told too late, speaking to her dad while he's likely already dead.
Her voice quivering, Shiv goes through all five stages of grief in mere minutes before hanging up. It's absolutely soul-destroying.
Later in the season, she gives a beautiful, honest eulogy, tears forming when she reflects on the rare moments of love: "When the sun shone, it was warm in the light." Her ambivalence hurts to watch: after four seasons, there's no resolution.
Clearing the air. Season 4, Episode 8
For the first time, Tom and Shiv talk honestly to each other, an onslaught of resentment and disgust at the power-hungry elements they see in each other.
It's a fight of pure cruelty on both sides, but Tom can hurt Shiv much more than she can. When he says she's incapable of love and won't be a good mother, it's her worst fear spoken: it takes really knowing someone to do that.
With Shiv's pregnancy written into the show due to Snook's own, Snook says she reacted in-scene with extra weight — you can feel it.
Bonus: All the times she insulted Roman
Choosing your favourite Succession insult is like choosing a child to be heir to your multi-million dollar empire: why pick, when it's so fun to say them all?
Shiv's at the brunt of some pretty brutal misogyny during the show, and in turn, her profane insults are the best when she's making fun of fragile masculinity.
From her dry retort about ATN ("Let's just keep one of his old sweaters, less racist") to spelling it out to Matsson ("Deniability is difficult, given she has so much of your blood"), Shiv can be ice cold. But it's Roman who gets the best burns. Here are a few favourites:
"You love showing your pee-pee to everyone, but some day you're actually gonna have to f**k something."
*While smelling Roman* "Oh, what is that? Date Rape by Calvin Klein?"
"I thought that would've kinda been your dream, Rome. Me f**king Gerri with your dick."