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It just seems to me that it’s hypocritical for us as a culture to say, “Bullying is a terrible thing,” when really, they are just reflecting what the society is doing.

Alan Cumming

I had to be a grown-up when I should have been a little boy, and now that I’m a grown-up my little-boyness has exploded out of me. I’ve lived my life backwards.
ALAN CUMMING

Backward Boy Explode Grown Life Little Live Out Up
I always think about a little gay boy in Wisconsin or a little lesbian in Arkansas seeing someone like me, and if I cannot be open in my life, how on earth can they?
ALAN CUMMING

Always Earth Lesbian Life Little Gay Open
Pantomime is a big thing in the cultural calendar of my country, you know. So subtlety’s not my forte.
ALAN CUMMING

Big Calender Country Culture Forte Know Pantomime Subtitety Thing
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
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
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
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
Kids are more genuine. When they come up and want to talk to you, they don’t have an agenda. It’s more endearing and less piercing to your aura.
ALAN CUMMING

Agenda Come Genious Kid More Talk Up Want
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’m Scottish first, and it’s odd to hear that I’m a Scottish-American.
ALAN CUMMING

Country Hear Odd State
I was horrified when Richard Chamberlain and Rupert Everett said gay actors should stay in the closet. They were saying to people that they should live a lie and not be liberated, to live in fear of being found out.
ALAN CUMMING

Actor Closet Horrify People
There are some days when you don’t feel like being Alan Cumming.
ALAN CUMMING

Bring Cuming Feel Same Day
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
It’s hardly ever done, compared to how often it’s done in other companies, not just Britain. Someone from the Roundabout Theater Company – I said, “You never do Shakespeare.” And he said, “Yes, we’re not very good at it.” And I thought, “What a terrible thing to say.”.
ALAN CUMMING

Actor Actually Country Good Intimidate Though
It’s exciting to be with really, really good people. Some people make you feel like you’ve got to up your game.
ALAN CUMMING

Excite Feel Game Good Like People Really Some
I think people deny themselves by putting themselves into categories.
ALAN CUMMING

Category Into People Put Themselves Think
I don’t avoid anyone but I always think some people hate me.
ALAN CUMMING

Always Anyone Avoid Hate People Some
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 should *have* an experience; it shouldn’t just *be* an experience.
ALAN CUMMING

Experience Have Should
I started to itch to do a play again and ‘Macbeth’ came to the surface in my mind. I never thought I would do it in a conventional way. A sweaty Macbeth with blood on his arms coming in fresh from the battle doesn’t interest me.
ALAN CUMMING

Again Came Itch Mind Start Surface
I’m not a fan of Twitter.
ALAN CUMMING

Fan Twitter
You could then, when you lay that as the groundwork, say, “Here I am. This is what I think. I come in peace.” Then you’re able to push out, to be able to talk about more things. And that’s been a really heartening thing about my life, actually.
ALAN CUMMING

Able Groundwork Peace Push Really Talk Think
He … knew, in that instant, that his life would not be an easy one-he was different, he looked different, he thought differently.
ALAN CUMMING

Different Difficult Easy Instant Know Look Through
Once in a while it’s good to challenge yourself in a way that’s really daunting.
ALAN CUMMING

Challenge Daunt Good Once Real While Yourself
You can feel it coming and you can see where it is going to take you but you are powerless, utterly powerless to stop it. I know now.
ALAN CUMMING

Come Feel Go Powerless Stop Take Utterly
I come more to Scotland than I ever used to, so I feel more connected to it, more part of the zeitgeist. You know when you realize you have a choice and I’m choosing my homeland. It’s funny: when you get older these things creep up to you.
ALAN CUMMING

Come Connect Country Ever Feel More Used

It just seems to me that it’s hypocritical for us as a culture to say, “Bullying is a terrible thing,” when really, they are just reflecting what the society is doing.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

It just seems to me that it’s hypocritical for us as a culture to say, “Bullying is a terrible thing,” when really, they are just reflecting what the society is doing.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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