Alan Cumming is a jack of all trades.
From his impressive acting credits to winning numerous accolades for hosting the critically acclaimed reality show The Traitors, the star is constantly advocating for LGBTQ+ equality with all of his exciting projects.
As the competition series gains momentum around the world and even starts cranking out spin-off series, Cumming is thrilled that he gets to tap into his unapologetic queerness in the Scotland castle.
“I love it! It’s really such fun. It’s got a fascinating demographic. We’ve got a hefty amount of our acronym represented. Look at me stomping around like a big femme daddy! I think it’s hilarious that that’s such a big part of the show’s success. I’m a 61-year-old man with eyeshadow and a dress. I’m embracing smashing the binary with my outfits! Hopefully that will help in some little way,” Cumming tells Out.
While The Traitors has served a wonderful creative outlet for Cumming, the star is prioritizing other passion projects that shed a light on the struggles that queer people are still facing to this day. In his new series Tip Toe, the talented actor portrays a gay man who experiences violent homophobia in Manchester, England.
“It’s about this disconnect with our culture that we have right now. This show is about vilifying low-hanging fruit in society, which is often queer people, trans people, immigrants, refugees… people like that. The American government is supporting the vilification of all of these groups. We’ve got to draw a line in the sand. Hateful rhetoric and violence are going unchecked.”
Although Tip Toe is a British production filmed across the pond, the psychological thriller and drama depicts all of the dangers and threats that are still facing the LGBTQ+ community in every corner of the world.
“People are too scared in America to make a show like this. People are afraid they’re going to be attacked or boycotted for talking about the government. Even Heated Rivalry was not made in America. It’s another piece of queer cultural storytelling and it’s much more hard-hitting. Americans are not getting these stories. They don’t want us to hear about these things and that’s what’s scary to me. It’s really terrifying.”
Tip Toe is streaming now on STARZ. Fans can follow Alan Cumming on Instagram here.