Scottish actor Alan Cumming won a Tony for the musical Cabaret and has starred in a variety of film roles. He recently released his eclectic CD, I Bought a Blue Car Today.
Windy City Times: Hi, Alan. I just listened to the new album and was wondering how you chose the songs.
Alan Cumming: They were songs that I had in my head for a long time or sometimes people suggested them, such as "What More Can I Say." They were songs that I connected to in some way.
WCT: You perform the tracks in a one-man show, correct?
ALAN CUMMING: Yes, they are all part of a show that I have been doing called I Bought a Blue Car Today. So I perform them and tell funny stories about coming to America, living here for the past 10 years and becoming a U.S. citizen.
WCT: That has to have been a big change for you.
ALAN CUMMING: Well, coming to America definitely was, yeah. I have been living here a long time but taking part in the political process was interesting.
WCT: You performed with Cyndi Lauper in Threepenny Opera. Is that why you picked "Shine" to cover?
ALAN CUMMING: Yeah. I actually didn't know that song until I worked with her and she played me that record. I love that song. It is so uplifting. That's why I did that one.
WCT: You just hosted the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Media Awards [ in Advertising ] . How was that?
ALAN CUMMING: It's a new thing because GLAAD is awarding advertising, not just other forms of media. It was very exciting.
WCT: How's your partner, Grant Shaffer?
ALAN CUMMING: He's good. He's very well, thank you.
WCT: Did you just sign on for Spider-Man the Musical?
ALAN CUMMING: I have been attached to it for a while. I am looking forward to it.
WCT: Do you like superhero projects such as that one and Nightcrawler from the X-Men movie?
ALAN CUMMING: Well, they have just sort of happened. I like the epic nature of the stories of these kinds of characters. I like the script by Julie Taymor. It is going to be a huge spectacle. It is a very exciting project to be a part of.
WCT: Another project you have coming up is the movie Jackboots on Whitehall.
ALAN CUMMING: That's a film that comes out next year. It is stop-animation film that's about if Germany had invaded Britain. It's nuts and crazy. I play Hitler, who is a transvestite. I also play Braveheart because the Scots, of course, come and save the day, hoorah!
WCT: Awesome! You have a lot of things going on.
ALAN CUMMING: I like to multitask. I think it's great. I get to focus on what I do at the time then go onto the next thing and really focus on that. Then I get to focus on relaxation as well. Now I am off the hook and get to have fun.
WCT: And finally take a break.
ALAN CUMMING: And I do... [ Both laugh. ]
WCT: You also have Cumming: the Fragrance and beauty products to keep you busy.
ALAN CUMMING: I like to keep 'em guessing.
WCT: You mentioned recently that condom use should be a priority.
ALAN CUMMING: Yes. The younger generation did not get the same sort of sex education that I did where I came from. People are getting really slack about using condoms. You can see the way that HIV has gone way up over the last eight years. It is really important to keep reminding people that there are lots of reasons to wear a condom. It should become a part of our daily life. Some kids think that AIDS can be cured. We need to remind each other to be safe.
WCT: It seems like you are able to use your celebrity status to host benefits get the word out about things.
ALAN CUMMING: I do a lot of benefits. I just was at amfAR in Dallas and Amnesty in New York. They are great to work with. I really admire them
WCT: Do you have any plans to come to Chicago?
ALAN CUMMING: I am actually talking to some people about coming to Chicago. It is not confirmed yet but I am in talks this week. Hopefully, I will be coming with my show and my band.
WCT: We will be looking for that blue car to drive into town.
Visit AlanCumming.com .