Alan Cumming

Alan Cumming is a Scottish-American actor, writer, director, and activist who identifies as bisexual and has long been one of the most visible LGBTQ+ performers in global entertainment. He rose to international prominence with his Tony Award-winning performance as the Emcee in Cabaret (1998), and later became widely known for roles in X2 (2003), The Good Wife (2010), Schmigadoon! (2021), and as the host of the reality competition series The Traitors (2023). Cumming has spoken openly about his sexuality for decades and has used his platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and other causes, with activism recognized alongside his artistic work. He has also chronicled his life in memoirs including Not My Father's Son (2014) and Baggage: Tales from a Fully Packed Life (2021). Cumming became a United States citizen in 2008 while retaining his British citizenship. In 2023, he returned the OBE he had received in 2009, citing concerns about the "toxicity" of the British Empire and its historical legacy. Across theatre, film, television, and activism, Cumming remains a distinctive and boundary-defying presence in contemporary culture.