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Once in a while it’s good to challenge yourself in a way that’s really daunting.

Alan Cumming

Nowadays people don’t know how to handle it if all the ends aren’t tied up and they’re not told what to think in films. And if they’re challenged, they think it’s something wrong with the film.
ALAN CUMMING

Challenge Feel Greatest Like Man One Perform
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.
ALAN CUMMING

Aim Barrier Film Intrigued Month Six Writer Year
Sometimes people get really sniffy about the films you choose if you’ve done more dramatic projects or you’re classically trained.
ALAN CUMMING

Choose Film People Really Sniffy Sometimes
So if I’m swirling around on some wires, talking to Fred Flintstone, I make it the funnest I can. I also want to be good at it. I don’t want to be a crap cartoon character. I want to be proud I’m a vitamin!
ALAN CUMMING

Cartoon Crap Flinstone Funny Good Make Proud Swirl Talk Want
My feeling about work is it’s much more about the experience of doing it than the end product. Sometimes things that are really great and make lots of money are miserable to make, and vice versa.
ALAN CUMMING

Do End Experience Feel Product Work
I wouldn’t do my roles if I really hated it. I’ve done things I hated, but I didn’t go into them thinking I would hate them. I want to have fun. I don’t want to go to work and not enjoy it.
ALAN CUMMING

Done Fun Hate Really Role Thing Want
Some things are just really difficult to do. That’s what I find hard. I usually can find a way to do a character to make it real and work. But sometimes it’s a struggle sustaining that, because there’s such a level of personal involvement and personal, physical, and emotional distraughtness.
ALAN CUMMING

Character Difficult Hard Just Make Real Really Something Usually Way Work
Usually, there’s a story I’ve told that leads up to why I’m singing the song. The whole concept of the show was about being authentic and connecting with these songs. The best way to do that was in a room with an audience and for people to listen to that.
ALAN CUMMING

Lead Sing Song Story Told Usually
I’ve actually found – especially doing my cabaret show – I’m connecting with people in a way I haven’t connected with them. I’ve found that when you’re open and honest, people respond to that, whatever you’re being open and honest about.
ALAN CUMMING

Actual Cabaret Connect Done Especial Found People Show Way
When there’s an adult person who’s scaring you, you grow up pretty quickly.
ALAN CUMMING

Adult Grow Person Pretty Quickly Scare
I usually can find a way to do a character to make it real and work. But sometimes it’s a struggle sustaining that, because there’s such a level of personal involvement and personal, physical, and emotional distraughtness.
ALAN CUMMING

Character Distrautness Emotion Involve Level Make Physical Real Sometimes Struggle Usually Way Work
It is not hard to feel like an outsider. I think we have all felt like that at one time or another.
ALAN CUMMING

Another Feel Felt Hard Like One Outsider Time
I’m Scottish first, and it’s odd to hear that I’m a Scottish-American.
ALAN CUMMING

Country Hear Odd State
Actors aren’t stupid, mostly, and if there’s a sensibility and an aesthetic that a director’s going for, if you’re aware of that too, you can do things to help that.
ALAN CUMMING

Actor Aesthetic Director Gone Mostly Sensible Stupid
I think people deny themselves by putting themselves into categories.
ALAN CUMMING

Category Into People Put Themselves Think
I think American actors are much more intimidated by Shakespeare. I actually want to do this Shakespeare play in New York, but I think it’s interesting that there’s this gaping hole in the repertoire in the American theater, which is Shakespeare.
ALAN CUMMING

Actor Country Intimidate More Much Think
I’m not a fan of Twitter.
ALAN CUMMING

Fan Twitter
It’s about how you exist as a person in the world, and the idea that your work is more important than you as a person is a horrible, horrible message.
ALAN CUMMING

Exist Horrible Idea Important Message Person Work World
In terms of the sort of class, and the sort of snobby, slightly on the back-foot thing Britain has. But it’s much more prevalent in America.
ALAN CUMMING

Back Class Country Foot More Prevalent Snobby Sort Term Think
In my first year at drama school, I did this kids’ show called ‘Let’s See.
ALAN CUMMING

Call Drama First Kid Let School See Show Year
I’d been depressed before, of course. But I’m talking about really depressed. Not just feeling a bit down or sad, a depression that has something to do with biorhythms. I’m talking about the kind of depressed that floats in upon you like a fog.
ALAN CUMMING

Biorhythms Before Course Depress Down Feel Just Really Sad Something Take
I actually find in America, there’s a slight snobbery about actors who go back and forth between big heavy dramas and popcorn fare. That always intrigues me, because that doesn’t exist in the same way in Britain. And I imagine it would be worse.
ALAN CUMMING

Actor Actual Back Big Country Drama Fare Forth heavy Popcorn Slight Snobbery
If they’re not seeing that their society sees gay people as equals, how could you tell them what they’re doing is wrong?
ALAN CUMMING

Equal Gay People See Society Wrong
I was so scared of going back to the theatre after Hamlet. I didn’t know if I’d do a play again because I was afraid of the power of it.
ALAN CUMMING

Afraid Again Back Go Hamlet Know Power Scare Theatre
You’ll see Dame Judi Dench in a Bond film, in Shakespeare and then starring in her own sitcom. You never see that here with Meryl Streep.
ALAN CUMMING

Author Bond Dame Dench Film Own Sitcom Starring
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.
ALAN CUMMING

Country Example Good Reluctant Rubbish Seen Take Think Writer
It is actually important to do songs they’re familiar with. Also, I love those songs. In a way, I think I’ve changed people’s perceptions of what a cabaret show like this could be.
ALAN CUMMING

Actually Change Familiar Important Perception Snow Song Way

Once in a while it’s good to challenge yourself in a way that’s really daunting.

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Once in a while it’s good to challenge yourself in a way that’s really daunting.

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