Alan Cumming is no stranger to Hollywood’s highs and lows. The Scottish actor, now 60, has had a long and varied career, spanning cult classics like Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion to blockbuster hits and even hosting one of reality TV’s biggest shows, The Traitors. But behind the glamor, Cumming says he’s done a lot of work on himself to get to a healthier place mentally and emotionally.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he shared, “Now that I’m in my evolved, after-much-therapy life, I know the danger of staying in a place that is not healthy for you.” Therapy, he explains, played a crucial role in helping him break free from toxic environments, both professionally and personally. “That’s probably why I look like I’m having such fun all the time. I am,” he adds with a laugh.
Still, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Cumming openly admits to being involved in some projects that were, in his words, “awful.” Despite the poor quality of the work, or the miserable experience of making it, he believes it’s all part of the unpredictable nature of showbiz. “If you’re on a film you thought was going to be great, but you’re having a terrible experience, what can you do? You’ve got to finish it.”
He’s had situations where he loathed the filming process, only for the movie to become a hit. On the flip side, some of his favorite on-set memories come from movies that tanked. “I’d much rather have a blast than have a good film,” he says honestly. For Cumming, the process often outweighs the final product.
That mindset is part of what makes him a natural fit for The Traitors, the U.S. version of the popular reality franchise. Hosting the show seems to align perfectly with his current outlook: fun first, results second. “Success is nice. The Traitors is huge, and I’m happy to be in it. But the best thing about it is that it’s fun.”
Interestingly, Cumming doesn’t consider himself a reality TV expert. “I am always a bit confused by them,” he admits. Yet that confusion doesn’t stop him from being fascinated by the bold personalities the genre attracts. “I really enjoy the arrogance of the people who come from those types of shows.”
He observes that many contestants come in overconfident, assuming their previous fame or strategy will give them an edge. “They think they’re going to be better at The Traitors than anybody else.” But often, it’s the quieter, more observant players who survive. “Maybe you lay low, shut up, and not beat your chest so much. That’s what I find so interesting about the people who are sent home first.”
From deep therapy sessions to playful jabs at reality TV contestants, Alan Cumming’s journey reflects a man who’s finally found balance, and isn’t afraid to speak his mind.
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