Alan Cumming opens up about his traumatic childhood in the new documentary Miriam and Alan: Lost in Scotland – does he have a partner?
The X-Men actor teams up with Call the Midwife star Miriam Margolyes as they set off on a road trip to investigate their mutual Scottish roots.
On the way, Alan shares memories of the abuse he suffered as a young boy.
Here’s everything you need to know about Alan and the documentary Miriam and Alan: Lost in Scotland on Channel 4.
Read more: Miriam Margolyes brands national treasure ‘nastiest’ person she has ever worked with
What is Alan Cumming famous for?
Actor Alan Cumming OBE is famous for his work in theatre, TV and film.
His London stage appearances include the role of Maniac in Accidental Death of an Anarchist, for which he received an Olivier Award.
He’s probably best known for his film roles, including Boris Grishenko in Goldeneye, Nightcrawler in X-Men 2, and Fegan Floop in the Sky Kids franchise.
On TV, he has portrayed Billie Blaikie in The L Word, Eli Gold in The Good Wife, Dr. Dylan Reinhart in Instinct, and Simon Hoxley in Prodigal Son.
Alan Cumming has written the novel Tommy’s Tale, and two autobiographical books – Not My Father’s Son: A Memoir, and Baggage: Tales From a Fully Packed Life.
He describes himself as a “Scottish elf trapped inside middle aged man’s body”.
Alan is also a singer and activist.
How old is Alan Cumming?
Alan Cumming was born on January 27 1965.
He is currently 56 years of age.
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Where is Alan Cumming from?
Alan Cumming was born on Aberfeldy, Perthshire, in Scotland.
His mother, Mary Darling, was an insurance company secretary and appears in Alan’s new documentary series Miriam and Alan: Lost in Scotland.
Alan Cumming’s dad was the head forester of Panmure Estate, which is located near Carnoustie, on the east coast of Scotland.
This is where Alan grew up.
In the C4 three-part series, Alan returns to his childhood home in Carnoustie where he recalls his abusive childhood.
On November 7 2008, Alan Cumming became a dual-national and was sworn in as a citizen of the US.
Alan Cumming partner – is he married?
Self-proclaimed vegan and athiest Alan is bisexual.
He currently lives in Manhattan with his husband, illustrator Grant Shaffer, and their dogs, Jerry and Lala.
The couple dated for two years before becoming civil partners at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London, in January 2007.
They legally married in New York in January 2012, the fifth anniversary of their London union.
Before his relationship with Grant, Alan was married to actress Hilary Lyon.
He also had a two-year relationship with actress Saffron Burrows, and a six-year relationship with theatre director Nick Philippou.
In 2006, Alan stated that he “would dearly like to adopt a child,” but that his life was “too hectic”.
Alan Cumming childhood abuse
In his autobiography Not My Father’s Son, Alan Cumming described the emotional and physical violence his father inflicted on him in his childhood.
His father was violent and regularly beat Alan.
Alan wrote: “I actually think the prolonged period of tension before landing his blows, as we were systematically inspected, chided, and humiliated, had a far worse effect than the actual hits.”
He went on: “My father continued to have affairs throughout my childhood, and they were not subtle or discreet.
“I understood that I had to collude, to protect my father, even though he didn’t deserve it.”
In more shocking confessions, Alan said: “My father told me I was worthless, my mother that I was precious.
“They couldn’t both be right, but they evened each other out and I began to make my own mind up, not just about myself but about everything that was going on around me.”
Alan had no communication with his father until just before the filming of his episode of the series Who Do You Think You Are?
He then found out his father had believed that Alan was not his biological son.
Later, Cumming and his younger brother took DNA tests that proved they were indeed his biological children.
Miriam and Alan: Lost in Scotland – what’s it about?
This new three-part series sees actors Miriam Margolyes and Alan Cumming take off on a camper-van adventure to rediscover their Scottish roots.
They start out in their one-time mutual home of Glasgow.
Although Miriam, 80, was born in Oxford, the actress visits the street where her Jewish family first lived in Scotland.
The pair then journey north into the Highlands.
Alan, 56, learns about his ancestral past at Cawdor Castle, and they meet up with fellow actor Bill Paterson.
Later, Alan takes us to his childhood home in Carnoustie where he remembers his abusive childhood.
He remembers the traumatic moment his bullying father cut his hair with a pair of shears.
Miriam and Alan: Lost in Scotland starts on Tuesday November 16 2021 at 9.15pm on Channel 4.
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