Authenticity in the Arts and Life
The Journey to Showing up as Yourself
There’s something to be said for daring to discover who you are, and the journey shouldn’t end there. The next step is to share who you are fully and authentically with the world. In this episode, film and TV actor Alan Cumming discusses his own experience of self-discovery as well as why being authentic is so important in the arts, as well as in his work and his life.
Alan Cumming, O.B.E., is a brilliantly multi-talented Scottish–American actor. He is also a comedian, singer, writer, filmmaker, and activist who has appeared in numerous films, television shows, and plays during his career, which began at the age of 16. He has won a Tony award and has been nominated for Emmys and Golden Globes, as well having received more than 40 awards for his humanitarianism and social activism. He is the author of five books, including the #1 New York Times bestselling memoir, “Not My Father’s Son,” which details growing up with an abusive father and the impact this had on his life.
What You’ll Learn from This Episode:
- Alan shares how he got his start as an actor at the age of 16
- How he feels about his 40+ humanitarian awards and what he’s done with them
- The response to his memoir that revealed childhood abuse from his father
- Why he’s been involved in trying to move chimps from Missouri to Florida
- How he felt about revealing his bisexuality to his mother, and her response
- Why he became an American citizen
- Why he is passionate about changing the government
- What Club Cumming Productions is working on
- What advice he would give to his ten-year-old self
- The incident that made him promise never to betray himself again
Featured on the Show: