ILLUSTRATION BY HANOCH PIVEN
Twenty years ago last month, Alan Cumming burst onto the American scene as the emcee in the Broadway revival of Cabaret. It was a role so perfectly suited to the Scottish actoru2019s expressive eyebrows, cheeky wit, and slinky sexuality that he not only won a 1998 best actor Tony Award, but he also revived the role for a lauded 2014 restaging, opposite Michelle Williams and, later, Emma Stone. The next two decades brought dozens of scene-stealing roles in projects as diverse as the Spy Kids franchise, the X-Men sequel X2, Eyes Wide Shut, and Julie Taymoru2019s adaptations of The Tempest and Titus Andronicus. Despite the increased exposure, however, Cumming remained a decidedly New York characteru2014the kind of figure, like a Patti Smith or Fran Lebowitz, that New Yorkers always feel a special, protective ownership over.
But that all began to shift during his Emmy-nominated seven-season run on CBSu2019s The Good Wife. His lovably gruff campaign strategist, Eli Gold, a buttoned-up political operative, couldnu2019t have been further fromu2014though no less magnetic thanu2014his lipstick-wearing, bare-chested Cabaret character. New Yorkers would have to learn to share.
In March, he landed his own CBS show, Instinct, a rollicking procedural based on a James Patterson novel. His character, Dr. Dylan Reinhart, boasts a ru00e9sumu00e9 nearly as diverse as Cummingu2019s: Heu2019s a professor, author, former CIA agent, and motorbike enthusiast who teams up with the NYPD to stop a serial killer. He also happens to be the first gay lead character on an American network drama.
While starring in a groundbreaking television series certainly qualifies as a full-time gig, Cumming has spent the last few years in perpetual motion: touring his one-man show, Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs; opening his own bar and performance space, Club Cumming, in Manhattanu2019s East Village; campaigning for Scottish independence and against Brexit; and even traveling to Lebanon with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
Fortunately, he finds time to meet with Hemispheres for a breakfast of avocado toast (with extra chili flakes) and a pot of tea at Soho House, in New Yorku2019s Meatpacking District, where he charmingly flirts with both the waiter and waitress, raising one of those famous eyebrows of his with each one-liner. u201cI usually think of my career as more of a verb than a noun,u201d he says. u201cI just do things that feel good at the time. And if I donu2019t like it, I stop.u201d
As a huge fan of The Good Wife, Iu2019m excited to welcome you back to TV. But you and James Patterson seem like a bit of an odd couple. How did this show come together?
I got this galley copy of the book, and I remember just thinking itu2019s a real page-turner, as those books are. So I was reading it, and I was going, u201cWho wrote this?u201d And they said, u201cOh, James Patterson.u201d And I went, u201cWhou2019s that, again?u201d They said, u201cOne in every 17 novels sold in America is written by him.u201d
Is your portrayal of the character similar to how heu2019s written in the book?
He had a husband; he had a motorbike. Heu2019s a little more of a goofball now, but I think thatu2019s just me. When we wrapped on the season, [showrunner] Michael Rauch said, u201cWeu2019re wrapping our good friend Alan. Weu2019re also wrapping his eyebrows.u201d I feel like my eyebrows are more of a character on the show than I am.
How much do you want Dylanu2019s sexuality to be a talking point for the show?
Itu2019s inevitable that it will be one of the main talking points of the showu2014and so it should be. But actually, in terms of the show, itu2019s the third or fourth thing down the list of things about this character. In 2018, the idea that this is the first network drama on American television that has a gay lead character is insane and shocking. Itu2019s great, but itu2019s also awful. That should be a talking point, about why it took so long and why thatu2019s a problem. The other thing thatu2019s great about it is that his gayness is not the main topic of the show. Itu2019s just, u201cu2026and, also, he happens to be gay.u201d I mean, him riding a motorbike is kind of more of a plot point than his sexuality, which is a really positive thing. And then the third thing is that the gay storyline is a really nice, functioning, supportive relationship. Itu2019s not issue-led like most gay storylines on network TV. I was definitely very conscious of how that would be handled, and I keep an eye on that more than other parts of the show.
Itu2019s a pretty big deal and definitely overdue. Do you feel as if all eyes are on your every move?
I feel like that anyway. If youu2019re out, if youu2019re queer and famous in this country, itu2019s a small band. If you donu2019t embrace that, then I think youu2019re being sort of cowardly. Because the very fact that you are put on this weird pedestal is the problem. Of course this part of the story will be a big deal, but ultimately my goal would be for it to not be a big deal.
It seems particularly significant that this show is debuting in the current political climate.
You know, itu2019s a scary time. Everywhere, LGBT people are being oppressedu2014and literally persecuted in some parts. I donu2019t feel as safe in this country as I did before, even in New York City, and Iu2019m wise to feel like that when somebody is advocating, via silence, a whole range of crimes against various humanities. So the fact that this is going on in this climate is a really positive thing, and I think itu2019s really good for CBS, who in the past have been accused of not having enough diversity.
What has been the response from test audiences?
In general, they really like the show, but there are things like, u201cWe donu2019t mind Alanu2019s gay!u201d Itu2019s not their favorite thing about the show. I think thatu2019s kind of what weu2019re up against.
If youu2019re out if youu2019re queer and famous in this country, itu2019s a small band. If you donu2019t embrace that, then I think youu2019re being sort of cowardly.
Youu2019re back filming in your adopted hometown of New York City. How does it feel to be considered a real u201cNew York characteru201d?
Iu2019m so glad the city is like a character in the show. In The Good Wife [which shot in New York but took place in Chicago], youu2019d do a take and someone would go, u201cSorry, thereu2019s a taxi in the background.u201d During Christmas, I realized it was my 20th year in New York. At the end of 1997, I came to start rehearsals for Cabaret. To be honest, I knew I wasnu2019t going to go back. People say things like, u201cI saw Cabaret,u201d to me, and youu2019re waiting for the u201c… and you were great.u201d But often it doesnu2019t come. They mean u201cI saw Cabaretu201d like u201cI went up to the top of the Empire State Building.u201d
Do you feel a kinship between New Yorkers and Scots?
Thereu2019s an energy, an openness, thatu2019s very similar. You can come into any place and just be like, u201cHey, whatu2019s going on?u201d
You were a vocal supporter of Scottish independence and spoke out against Brexit. How do you recover from those disappointments? Is it still a fight?
Obviously, it was devastating, but itu2019s definitely still a fight. Since Brexit, that has only spurred the fact, because itu2019s yet another decision that Westminster made that Scotland doesnu2019t agree withu2014and, actually, the whole point of independence is there. Of course thereu2019s going to be another referendum.
Are people in Scotland still politically engaged?
They totally are. Eighty-four percent of the population voted in the independence referendum. Itu2019s an incredibly politically engaged country. Things that I find very difficult about Americau2014I realize Iu2019m just so used to them from back home. Like the idea that itu2019s not a dog-eat-dog world. That having a safety net for people and ensuring that everyone has access to good health care and good education is not being soft on people. Thatu2019s not being a nanny state. Itu2019s just a right that I feel people should have, and when you donu2019t have it, itu2019s like, u201cWhat kind of culture are we that doesnu2019t care?u201d Itu2019s that kind of mentality.
Would you ever run for office?
[Laughs]
Do you get asked that often?
I dou2014more and more, actually. But I think that I have more reach just being me and being authentic. [In 2016,] Iu2019d just been to Lebanon with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and I went on Stephen Colbert and was able to talk about it. Iu2019ve got access to all these millions of people, and Iu2019m talking about something really important, so I think Iu2019m actually more powerful and have more access to more people and am more able to change peopleu2019s minds.
What did you learn while you were in Lebanon?
I saw a country that is aching. Thirty percent of the population there is refugees. I met a lot of people who were refugees from Syria. It was super-intense. I interviewed this one guy who wasnu2019t allowed to show his face because he was still in danger. I went to an LGBT group, which is, as you can imagine, even more horrific. They throw gay people off buildings. I mean, [one guy] had been raped, electrocuted, and had family members killed in front of him, and he was 19. What I realized, and what I think about America now, is that itu2019s going to take a long time for the PTSD of what has happenedu2014not only to the people who itu2019s happened to, but to all of usu2014and the idea that our character, our soul, has been so ravaged. Itu2019s going to take a long time.
Thereu2019s definitely a parallel between your newest endeavor, Club Cumming, and the Weimar-era Kit Kat Klub in Cabaret: The world may be going to hell outside, but inside, as you sing, u201cLife is beautiful.u201d Your club has hosted everything from drag shows to knitting sessions to a singalong set with Sir Paul McCartney and Emma Stone. How did that whole project start?
My dressing room at Cabaret was called Club Cumming. It was the year I was doing Cabaret and The Good Wife at the same time, so it was much easier to just bring the party to me. And it would be this rocking party. I got a booze sponsor for my dressing room, Bacardi USA, God bless u2019emu2014endless supplies of Skyy vodka. It was like the Batphone: u201cHello! Weu2019re out of gin! Could you send some now? Thanks!u201d Afterward, I did a few pop-up parties, just as a way to see friends, really, and it started to get a shape. I just love encouraging people to have fun. And Easternbloc was my favorite bar, so I bought into my favorite bar.
That sounds dangerous!
It is dangerous, because I have this TV show; I canu2019t be out every night! But itu2019s been amazing. In a way, I think itu2019s one of my best creative achievements.
I just love encouraging people to have fun.u00a0I donu2019t think anyu00a0pleasures should be guilty.
What were your inspirations?
What I loved about these parties is that I come off as a very non-judgy person. So when I put on something that people might be embarrassed to dance to because itu2019s too poppy or too tacky, I would encourage people to dance to it. I find, especially in America, people have a real problem with that. u201cOh, am I allowed to dance to this? What does everyone think of it?u201d
Yeah, we have this idea of the guilty pleasure.
Which I never agree with. I donu2019t think any pleasures should be guilty. I donu2019t like this idea that you have to decide not to relate to the music on a sensual level, you have to decide intellectually whether youu2019re going to let go or not. So that was my intention. The two songs I sing the most there are u201cTomorrowu201d [from Annie] and u201cPart of Your Worldu201d from The Little Mermaidu2014two of the tackiest songs I can think of, but everyone sings along.
You made a whole show, Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs, out of that ethos.
The whole thing with Sappy Songs was that it was songs that Iu2019m going to completely commit to. Iu2019m gonna sing u201cThe Climbu201d by Miley Cyrus, and youu2019re gonna go, u201cF***, thatu2019s a beautiful song.u201d I set it up like, u201cSome of these songs I was very snippy about and judgy. I never thought Iu2019d be singing them now, but if you listen to songs in a different way, they keep coming back to you, and you can open your heart to them.u201d By the end of it, youu2019re going to be questioning why you thought that way.
I hear youu2019re debuting a new show, Legal Immigrant, this year. Tell me about that.
I actually feel that the whole language around immigration has become very negative, and, as someone whou2019s a recent immigrant to this country, I feel dented by that. Itu2019s almost like those words u201clegalu201d and u201cillegalu201d have blended as a prefix for immigrant. Weu2019re taught to assume that thereu2019s some bad news or strife in some way, and I find that really insulting. So I wanted to do a show highlighting my story of coming here; Iu2019m gonna do the immigration status of every songwriter. Letu2019s question what we think about immigrants and remind ourselves that every f****** brick in this building would have been laid by an immigrant; all our infrastructure was built and perhaps designed by immigrants.
How deep into America do your tours take you?
I go pretty deep! I had a great time in North Carolina. In Sappy Songs, I read a poem a guy called Steve Siddle sent me: a letter to the president that heu2019d written in the style of the Scottish poet Robert Burns. Genius. And I read that, and it gets a huge reaction, and also boos, and I like that. I want people to be challenged. I think being political with both a capital u201cPu201d and a little u201cpu201du2014even just things like maybe talking about my ex-boyfriend and his tattoos, one of the hilarious anecdotes I tellu2014is probably more effective than me ranting. Itu2019s just fear of the unknown. A lot of the people who were excited by this whole notion of the other and refugees and immigrants are people who donu2019t come into contact with those people. The more you slide into their knowledge about it, then inevitably weu2019re in a safer, better place.
