Alan Cumming
Alan Cumming
Alan Cumming, OBE, is a Scottish character actor, author, and activist who has appeared in numerous films, television shows and plays. His London stage appearances include Hamlet, the Maniac in Accidental Death of an Anarchist, the lead in Bent, and the National Theatre of Scotland's The Bacchae. On Broadway he has appeared in The Threepenny Opera, as the master of ceremonies in Cabaret, Design for Living and a one-man adaptation of Macbeth. His best-known film roles include his performances in...
NationalityScottish
ProfessionTV Actor
Date of Birth27 January 1965
CityAberfeldy, Scotland
It's really rare for film directors to be that interested in things other than themselves.
For example, Americans seem reluctant to take on Shakespeare because you don't think you're very good at it - which is rubbish. You're missing out here.
You should *have* an experience; it shouldn't just *be* an experience.
I'm quite good, though I say it myself, at making strangers feel at ease.
Sometimes people do you a favour when they drop out of your life.
Most people will never know anything beyond what they see with their own two eyes.
When there's an adult person who's scaring you, you grow up pretty quickly.
Pantomime is a big thing in the cultural calendar of my country, you know. So subtlety's not my forte.
It's exciting to be with really, really good people. Some people make you feel like you've got to up your game. Working with good people is always good.
When you're on TV, you come into people's homes. In theater and film, they go to you - to the temple of the cinema or theater. And it's very different.
I'm not a fan of Twitter.
There are some days when you don't feel like being Alan Cumming.
A sweaty Macbeth with blood on his arms coming in fresh from the battle doesn't interest me.
I don't feel I'm a compulsive person. I multitask. I'm really well-organised, and I have lots of people to help me.