The Skinny on... Alan Cumming

What’s your favourite place to visit and why?
Scotland. Always Scotland. Even though I live here and I have travelled around so much, I still get so excited about the new places to discover and the beauty I have yet to see.

Favourite food and why?
Mushy peas. I'm just obsessed with them. I think it's because I love the high and the low: you can get mushy peas in a corner chip shop and in the swankiest restaurants. Mushy peas are the most egalitarian food there is! And the most delicious!

Favourite colour and why?
Yellow. I just love how it changes with the light at different times of day. And it’s so happy. It doesn’t look good on me though, and so I never wear yellow clothes, much as I would like to. But I have many yellow walls, and even a yellow fridge and cooker!

Who was your hero growing up?
I didn't have one. I think that's perhaps why I have always been pretty resourceful. As a child I had to make up my own mind about things and not assume others would inspire or help me.

Whose work inspires you now?
There's a guy I follow on instagram called Josh Donaldson (@earthdr0p) who goes around Scotland picking up litter from forests and does these amazing inspiring posts about it. People who are selfless and giving back, they are who have always inspired me.

What’s your all time favourite album?
The Kick Inside by Kate Bush. It came out in 1978 when I was 13 and it made me realise I was not alone in being different and arty and weird. So it has a special place in my heart in terms of self-awareness and confidence as well as being a beautiful piece of music.

What’s the worst film you’ve ever seen?
Don't want to say. I was in it!

Who’s the worst?
All the Republicans who are appalled at Trump but say and do nothing. History will not treat them well.

When did you last cry?
The other day, at work. I've been crying a lot recently because I’m shooting TipToe, the new Russell T Davies series, and it is really intense and I have a lot of teary scenes. It's actually quite cathartic to have a cry in front of a whole crew.

What are you most scared of?
People turning a blind eye to fascism, and violence and bigotry. So my worst fears are coming true right now.

When did you last vomit and why?
I got food poisoning about a year ago when I was in Napa, and had to stay in my bedroom for days and miss all the wine tours and deliciousness. I suppose I lost a few pounds though.

Tell us a secret?
I have never had wisdom teeth. Make of that what you will.

Which celebrity could you take in a fight?
I had a boxing teacher in New York who was looking very pissed off one day when I came for a lesson. When I asked him why he said he had seen a boxing-themed rap song video with loads of rappers pretending to box, and he was furious about how bad they were. I asked who was the worst and he replied it was Drake. "You could take Drake," he continued. So there you have it. My former boxing teacher thinks I could take Drake!

What’s your favourite plant?
I have an aloe vera plant that one of my neighbours in my old flat in Edinburgh gave me and it has survived several moves and long periods of neglect but has always rallied and is now in my cottage in Pitlochry and is looking better than ever.

What are you most looking forward to in 2026?
To having all of my plans for Pitlochry Festival theatre come to fruition, and to spending practically the whole year in Scotland.

What's in and what's out?
Kindness, openness, transparency are in. Undermining, obstruction and gaslighting are out!

Who would you most like to wreak revenge upon?
I believe in karma, so no need for me to do anything. Also it's giving them or it too much oxygen and energy.

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Out in the Hills Festival runs at Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 16-18 Jan
The Pitlochry Festival Theatre Season 2026 runs from May-Dec 2026. For tickets and info visit pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com