10 minutes with Alan Cumming

The actor on Leveson, graffiti and Dame Judi Dench
10 minutes with Alan Cumming
REX Features
Dipal Acharya6 July 2012

You live in New York. Which is dirtier: British or American politics?
The Americans are a little more shameful; it’s done less blatantly there. Right now in Britain it feels like the gloves are off; there’s been such a culture of corruption that they don’t even realise they’re corrupt.

How do you know when you’ve become a true New Yorker?
When you’re the crazy person talking to yourself in the street and have no qualms about it.

Are you following the Leveson Inquiry?
Totally. I’m fascinated by it. It’s like a long-running series where they bring on a good guest star whenever it starts to get boring.

Your new series is Urban Secrets. What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you on a London street?
Vomiting, in my mid-thirties. I tried to hide behind a sapling. It didn’t work.

What would be your graffiti tag?
It would have to be A-Cum.

You have a toiletries line. Who’s the best-smelling celebrity you’ve met?
I had to have sex with Jessica Lange in Titus — she smelt nice.

What do you think is the sexiest smell?
Besides genitals, I’m quite into armpits. I like mild musk.

I hear you’re writing a memoir. Who would play you in the film of your life?
Cate Blanchett. She could pull it off. She’s a good actor and she could do me, as it were.

Do you have a dream role?
You should come to a role as an equal. If you’ve been pining for it, it’ll make you weird, desperate and unattractive.

What is the strangest part you’ve been offered?
I was going to be offered an alien spirit in a sci-fi film but the role went to Judi Dench. That bitch is always getting my parts.

Urban Secrets is on Sky Atlantic on Thursdays at 8pm

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