Alan Cumming: interviews and nominations

Alan Cumming dares do all in 'Macbeth' on Broadway
The actor tackles 15 roles from the Shakespearean tragedy along with a mental patient in a story that frames the performance. He finds it 'terrifying' but relishes the chance to try something that's never been tried before.

  Alan Cumming outside the Broadway theater where he is playing 15 parts in "Macbeth" in Manhattan, NY.
(Jennifer S. Altman, For The Times / April 14, 2013)

Like world-class athletes, actors often measure their achievements by the degree of difficulty. Does a part require an unusual amount of range? An extraordinary number of man hours? Is it simply a matter of a chewy set of lines to get one's lips around?
By all these standards, Alan Cumming would be an extreme-sports medalist.
In a stage turn that will last nearly two hours, Cumming is set to play the part of Macbeth. Or, rather, the parts of Macbeth, as he tackles 15 roles from the Shakespearean tragedy, including the title character, Banquo, Duncan, Lady Macbeth and plenty of others (as well as, in a story that frames the performance, a disoriented mental patient reenacting the play).
Read more at LA Times

Alan Cumming -> Quoted
The celebrated actor talks about preparing for his one-man production of Macbeth.

After sold-out engagements at the National Theatre of Scotland and Lincoln Center Festival, Alan Cumming is bringing his dark, one-man production of Macbeth to the Ethel Barrymore Theatre for a limited engagement, opening April 21. Cumming says that even though he was drawn to the idea of a new production, he still finds performing the show somewhat daunting.

“I’m really excited to do it again. I feel like I wasn’t done with it… It’s the most challenging and most overwhelming thing I’ve ever done in my entire life,” says Cumming.Read more at Next Magazine

Alan Cumming nominated for United Solo uAward
United Solo, the world's largest solo theatre festival, has announced the nominees for its uAward, which recognizes those with outstanding achievements in popularizing the form of solo performance.
Alan is nominated for his performance in Macbeth (National Theater of Scotland, Lincoln Center, and Broadway.
The recipient of the special uAward will be announced at the United Solo Festival Closing Ceremony.
This year the Festival will begin Oct. 3 and conclude with the Closing Ceremony on Nov. 24 at Theatre Row. During its eight-week program, the Festival will present a variety of local and international performances. The producers are currently accepting submissions from all over the world. Artists and performance companies are invited to submit their solo shows now through April 22. More information can be found at the festival's website, www.unitedsolo.org.
Read more at Playbill  

Alan Cumming welcomes first Birks cinema fans
Hollywood movie actor Alan Cumming OBE extends a personal welcome to the first patrons of The Birks Cinema at the Golden Ticket event on Friday 19th April
Source: YouTube 
Also reported by BBC

Clare Grogan: 'Aye Write' interview

Video: Clare Grogan at Aye Write!
From Herald Scotland:

Clare Grogan has given us a special video interview about Altered Images, female musicians and Gregory's Girl.

 

Clare Grogan and Ken McCluskey. Picture by Martin Shields. Source: Herald Scotland

The actress and singer appeared at the Aye Write! festival with Ken McCluskey from The Bluebells to talk about What Presence!, a book that celebrates the photography of Harry Papadopoulos.

Watch the interview at Herald Scotland

Gary Hollywood: video interview, and Disc-Golf launch

Video: Mrs Brown's Boys star Gary Hollywood speaks to Bev Lyons on his well-loved comedy role
The Scot is Dino Doyle in Brendan O’Carroll’s comedy, which plays to a sell-out crowd on a five-night run at Glasgow’s SECC.

He's been tripped up on stage before a theatre audience of thousands and been slapped with a tea towel by his co-star but Gary Hollywood wouldn’t swap his role in Mrs Brown’s Boys for anything.

The Scot is Dino Doyle in Brendan O’Carroll’s comedy, which plays to a sell-out crowd on a five-night run at Glasgow’s SECC. And the 33-year-old revealed there is never a dull moment.
As he prepared to go on stage for the first time at the Glasgow venue last night, he laughed: “With TV there’s a lot of stoppie starties and with theatre it’s a loose cannon.
“Brendan goes off on a rant or a tangent and there are a lot of ad libs involved.
“The show is always completely different no matter how many times you’ve seen it.
“You don’t know what is coming and how many times you will be slapped with a tea towel, have your nipples tweaked or be tripped up.
“Just last week Brendan decided he’d trip me up as I was exiting the stage and I ended up tumbling and banging my head off the door. I was thinking, ‘He won’t do that again.’ How wrong I was.”
Read more, and watch the video interview, at Daily Record

Game of throwin's no fantasy - it's frisbee fun
Scots actor Gary Hollywood took the first shot at the official opening of Scotland's only public Disc-Golf course.

The star of Mrs Brown's Boys joined British Disc- Golf champion Derek Robins and local children for a preview of the course at Rosshall Park and Gardens, Glasgow.

Anyone can try the sport, which, like traditional golf, sees competitors try to complete each hole in as few shots as possible. But, rather than hitting a ball, players throw a disc or frisbee.
Read more at Evening Times

Karen Gillan: Walking Dead ad for Nerdist

Photo courtesy of GeekMom

Watch Karen Gillan’s “Walking Dead”-Inspired Skin Care Ad for “The Nerdist”
From Three If By Space:

In case you were wondering, that’s the face of Karen Gillan.  Look closely and you can tell…I think.
She’s been a model in real life and as Amelia Pond on Doctor Who she even played a model, but never quite like this.  In a hilarious send-up of makeup advertisements, Karen Gillan got an undead makeover for a special The Walking Dead-themed episode of BBC America’s The Nerdist.
This video is only one of a series of z’Ombéal skin care ads that will be featured in the episode of The Nerdist to air on Saturday, April 6 on BBC America.  If you didn’t already have enough reason to stay home glued to the television while BBC America offers up the best Saturday night since disco, then here’s one more.

Read more at Three If By Space

Also reported by GeekMom and many others

Karen Gillan: BAFTA 2013 photoshoot (video)

Karen Gillan: BAFTA 2013 Photoshoot ~ Behind The Scenes

Published on Feb 3, 2013

Behind the scenes look at Karen Gillan during a brand new shoot to celebrate the BAFTAs for 2013
Source: YouTube

Paul Brannigan Interview - Under The Skin & The Angels' Share

Paul Brannigan chats about working with Scarlett Johansson in Under The Skin, being nominated for a BIFA for Ken Loach's The Angels' Share & upcoming film with Dexter Fletcher Sunshine on Leith.



Paul Brannigan has also appeared in documentaries Born To Lose, on Polmont Prison & Scottish drama River City.
Source: YouTube

Peter Mullan - Preview: The Fear

Gabriel Tate watches Peter Mullan lose his mind in Brighton in a new Channel 4 drama


★ ★ ★ ★

‘Empathy? Yes. Sympathy? Couldn’t give a fuck.’

Peter Mullan’s disinclination to curry favour on behalf of the people he portrays has paid rich dividends in a career studded with troubled, troubling character roles, from ‘My Name is Joe’ to ‘Red Riding’. Which is just as well in the case of four-part drama ‘The Fear’, in which Mullan takes on self-professed ‘evil bastard’ Richie Beckett. A Brighton gangster gone straight over a decade ago, Richie is cultivating respectability by fronting the latest redevelopment bid for the city’s derelict West Pier. But this fresh start comes under siege from three directions: drug-dealing, people-traficking Albanians moving in on his hard-won turf; his bickering sons, coke-addled liability Cal (Paul Nicholls) and level-headed pragmatist Matty (Harry Lloyd); and – the most inexorable threat of all – the aggressive onset of Alzheimer’s.

As a noirish thriller, ‘The Fear’ delivers. There’s mystery: why the opening flashforward to a beachfront attempt on a befuddled Richie’s life? And violence: lots of it, both physical and emotional. And a truly seedy environment which wrenches the sordid side of Brighton from the clutches of Graham Greene and casts it towards Dante. This is hell-on-sea – even a unicyclist gets a kicking – and it’s made all the worse by viewing it through the eyes of a man slowly losing his sense of self. Indeed, it’s Mullan’s electrifying performance that really makes it work as a character piece.

‘Richie’s a nasty son of a bitch who has made a living out of people’s poverty and addictions,’ says Mullan. ‘What intrigued us was bringing together a highly unsympathetic character with a disease that… well, obviously one does feel for the sufferers.’ As a scrapper, Richie’s instinctive response to his depening confusion is to lash out – but his internal conflicts are no less striking.

Michael Samuels’s direction makes the most of this, subjecting Mullan to some pretty unforgiving close-ups throughout. If an actor could be Bafta-nominated for his eyes alone, Mullan would be booking his seat for the ceremony next year. And his brand of seething restraint (albeit punctuated by explosive violence) brings similarly cagey and impressive performances from Nicholls, Lloyd and a man usually more prone to arch over-elaboration, Richard E Grant (as a face from Richie’s past). Like the city in which it’s set, ‘The Fear’ is a drama with plenty of front. But it’s the action behind the scenes that could make this unmissable.

‘'The Fear' airs nightly from Monday December 3 to Thursday December 6, 10pm, Channel 4.

Source (including video): Time Out

Tom Urie - Kilmarnock Xmas Light Switch On 2012

Tom Urie (Big Boab From BBC River City) entertaining the people of Kilmarnock.
Source: YouTube 

Alan Cumming: 'Captures' web show, 'Any Day Now' interview panel and advance screening offer

Web show “Captures” actor Alan Cumming and fashion photog Sebastian Kim
A new web series takes you “behind the images” with interviews with famous shooters: Capture is a fresh and informative look at the art of photography, its producers say.
The latest episode of the show on the YouTube Reserve Channel features fashion photographer Sebastian Kimm, and actor, director, and photographer Alan Cumming.
In each episode, Reserve Channel says, “celebrity lensman Mark Seliger invites a fellow photographer and celebrity photography-buff into his NYC studio to share the story behind their images and discuss their common passion.”
The full episode is below, courtesy of Reserve Channel
Published on Nov 15, 2012 by reservechannel 
Capture's Mark Seliger sits down with actor, director, and photographer, Alan Cumming and renowned fashion photographer, Sebastian Kim. No stone is left unturned as they discuss everything from nudity and Woody Allen to Instagram and George Clooney.
Directed by Barney Miller and produced by Cap Gun Collective.

Capture
A fresh and informative look at the art of photography and the stories behind the images. In each episode, renowned celebrity lensman Mark Seliger invites a fellow photographer and celebrity photography-buff into his NYC studio to share the story behind their images and discuss their common passion.

Source: Newsline

Napa Film Fest - The Actors: Alan Cumming, Garret Dillahunt, Jeff Grace, Madeline Zima, Vanessa Ray
Alan Cumming, Jeff Grace, Madeline Zima, Vanessa Ray and Garret Dillahunt, moderated by Pamela McClintock Senior Film Writer at Hollywood Reporter

Source: YouTube 

Advanced screening of Any Day Now on 5 December
The screening is open to everyone ($30 non-members, $20 members) and includes an open bar and plenty of time to socialize. Click here to purchase tickets and learn more about Out Professionals.
Source: Passport Magazine 

John Barrowman: scheduled guest on 'Fern Britton meets ...'

 

Fern Britton Meets... John Barrowman

Series 4 Episode 2 of 5

Duration: 1 hour

Known to some as Captain Jack Harkness, John Barrowman is an actor, a singer, a writer and an all-round showman who describes himself as an entertainer with a capital E.
Fern Britton meets the man with a dual personality, born in Scotland but brought up in the United States. Barrowman talks frankly about what drives him on - and the beliefs that underpin his life.Sun 2 Dec 2012 10:00 BBC One
Source: BBC   

John Barrowman on Black Friday, Pirating Music, Call Of Duty
John Barrowman tackles today's top issues, like how we have to deal with another Black Friday, the latest study about people who illegally download music, and the latest Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 flu epidemic.

Source: G4TV

Kelly MacDonald

Anna Karenina Interview - Kelly Macdonald
Interview with Kelly Macdonald, who plays Dolly in Anna Karenina.
1. On what makes the story of Anna Karenina relevant.

Read more at Trailer Addict 

Alan Cumming: 'Any Day Now' interviews

Alan Cumming Talks 'Any Day Now' in the Hamptons

Alan Cumming chats with Anglophenia's Tom Brook about his new film Any Day Now, a picture which he describes as a “gay Down’s Syndrome weepie.”

   
Source: Anglophenia 

Hamptons International Film Festival: Alan Cumming in attendance

Alan Cumming, a Scottish actor who tends to change accents, personas and hairstyles as often as a teenager, spoke before a live audience at Sag Harbor's Bay Street Theater on Saturday. His new film, "Any Day Now," about a drag queen trying to adopt a boy with Down syndrome, screens Sunday at 1 p.m. at the UA East Hampton.

Wearing black boots, houndstooth pants, a motorcycle jacket and a Hamptons film festival T-shirt that cheekily inserted "adult" into the title, the actor, 47, spoke to Time Out film critic Joshua Rothkopf about his eclectic career. Here are edited excerpts of the conversation.

Is that part of the way you develop characters, finding a voice?

It's rare that I use my own voice. So the accent of any character is much bigger. In America, you just speak with your own voice. American movie stars tend to be the same all the time. We like to see them again and again. If you're from somewhere else, you have a bigger opportunity to play other characters.

In your new film, "Any Day Now," your character is born in Queens, and the guy has a real honk. What about that role attracted you?

It's a story that I felt very passionate about as a human being and as an activist, to be in a story about same-sex adoption and just about being gay in general. I wanted to make him fight against what might be the archetypal idea of a gay man in the '70s that works as a drag queen. So I gave him a swagger. That's also an arsenal that he uses to get through life.

I see a thread through your films of the political and the personal. In the role of the MC in "Cabaret," at the end he removes his outfit to reveal Holocaust pajamas and a gold star and pink triangle. Was that your idea?

Yes, actually. When we did it first in London, I was playing Hamlet. And Sam Mendes asked me to do the MC and I said, "Ugh! I don't do musicals!" But he asked me again. When we did it in London, we also had a red circle for communist or socialist, anything vaguely lefty. But when we did it in New York, nobody understood what it was. Isn't that awful?

You met Jennifer Jason Leigh on that play. You created a real bond with her and the two of you did "The Anniversary Party."

It was with [the independent studio] New Line, sadly no longer with us. My favorite thing about that -- we went to Fox 2000 [another defunct indie], and showed it, and the man there cried and said, "We love this film, we love this film." And then they called me and said, "We'll pay for it if you make it a happy ending." They actually do say that. Isn't that shocking?

What was it like working with Kubrick [on "Eyes Wide Shut"]?

I loved Stanley, I adored him, and we had such a laugh. Stanley, his reputation was that he was this angry man, and the set was really scary, and you'd do thousands and thousands of takes. And we did do thousands and thousands of takes, but I always knew why we were doing it. He was hilarious and fun, and we had big chats and we kept in touch afterward.

I'd auditioned for it many times, but never met Stanley. And there they were: Stanley Kubrick and Tom Cruise. And I said, "Hi, Stanley, I'm Alan." And he looked at me, all angry: "You're not American." I said, "I know, Stanley, I'm Scottish." He said, "You were American on the tape." I said, "That's because I'm an actor, Stanley." (Does the zigzag snap) And I could tell he just loved it.

You don't seem to take celebrity all that seriously.

It's such a crazy thing, it's so stupid and weird. If you take it too seriously, that way madness lies. What it means is that people are interested in you, which is flattering, but they're also interested in really stupid people as well. So it could go either way.
Source: Newsday

Kevin McKidd: A Journey Home (video)

A Journey Home With Kevin McKidd
Travel with Kevin McKidd to his hometown in the Scottish Highlands as he revisits his childhood, performs and records the Speyside Sessions Album with classic Scottish folk songs with his friends, and reconnects with his roots.



Source: Kevin McKidd Online

John Barrowman: new show, project updates, book review

• Attack of the Show

G4TV have uploaded more videos from John Barrowman's hosting week:

John Barrowman on Japanese poop bikes and football
John Barrowman on HBO, the economy, and Stripper Laws  
John Barrowman kicks off football season!

• Arrow

The Examiner has 'Arrow' cast photos and spoilers: more on John Barrowman's role
Read more here

Also reported, with a video preview, by Digital Spy

• Make My Musical  

Broadway World TV exclusive: John Barrowman announces MAKE MY MUSICAL reality show 
With the success of musical-themed shows like “Smash” and “Glee,” Broadway is truly taking TV by storm and VPE’s “Make My Musical” is poised to be the next big thing. 

VPE is looking for talented troupes (consisting of 8-12 members) of Broadway performers-- as well as a panel of experts to join Broadway veteran John Barrowman. In the video below, Barrowman introduces the new reality series! 

This series will ultimately follow ONE troupe as they prepare to mount a musical theater review in New York City Theatre. And luckily they've got an amazing team of award winning talent (some of Broadway and West End's most decorated talent, musical directors and choreographers) to help along the way.
For additional information, visit: http://makemymusical.com/ 

Source (with video): Broadway World 

• Torchwood: Exodus Code - review

Release Date: 13 September 2012
368 pages | £16.99 (hardback)/£16.00 (audiobook)
Authors: John Barrowman and Carole E Barrowman
Publisher: BBC Books 

John Barrowman’s ongoing quest to be a sort of Saturday night renaissance man continues. As well as his acting, presenting and singing careers, he can now add “novelist” to his CV. Exodus Code, co-written with sister Carole, is his second book this year (the first, Hollow Earth, being a standalone Young Adult novel).
It’s a Jack-centric tale, set in the aftermath of the Torchwood gang’s recent American adventure. While the rest of the world is recovering from Miracle Day, Gwen is down in the dumps. Confined to the house with baby Anwen, she flips out and attacks Rhys. She’s not the only one feeling a bit off; hundreds of women around the world are having violent breakdowns. The answer may lie in an event from Jack’s past… Yes, again.
This is clearly intended to be Torchwood‘s first “event” book, and it largely succeeds. With a globe-trotting storyline that encompasses all the surviving regulars, it’s easy to imagine this as the show’s fifth season. The writing is competent and crammed with references sure to please hardened ‘woodies.
It takes an age to get going, mind. The first part, where Jack crashes a biplane then lolls around tripping his tits off for 90 pages is a bit of a chore, and the whole book is in need of a good trim. It’s frequently daft and cheesy, and there are some inevitable Garth Marenghi-isms, with numerous characters gazing lustfully at Jack, but hey, that’s Torchwood.

Reviewer: Will Salmon
Source: SFX
 

John Barrowman, Scarlett Strallen, BBC Concert Orchestra
The singers and orchestra, with conductor Larry Blank, perform a tribute to the singer and dancer, Gene Kelly.
Where: Hackney Empire
When: Sep 19, 8pm
Genre: Gigs - rock
Cost: £20-£35
Source: View London

Karen Gillan: Metro interview, and All Star Celebrity Bowling

Karen Gillan: Working with Matt Smith on Doctor Who was amazing

Actress Karen Gillan came to fame playing Amy Pond in Doctor Who. As she takes her final TARDIS voyage, she admits the Weeping Angels scared the pants off her.

What can people expect from the new series?

It’s the biggest series so far in terms of the scale of the episodes. It’s five movie-scale episodes, each is a stand-alone story but they lead to the departure of the Ponds.

This is your last series. Why did you decide to leave?

It was a mutual decision. I had a lovely dinner with [writer] Steven Moffat and told him when I thought would be a good time for me to leave. He told me what he was doing story-wise and between us we decided I should go now.

When did you finish filming?

Two months ago. I’m still doing Doctor Who events so it doesn’t feel as though it’s over yet. It won’t do until the last episode goes out. I’ll have some friends over to watch it.

What leaving presents did you get?

Me and Arthur Darvill, who plays Rory Pond, got two huge pictures of ourselves looking like we’re in a Next campaign. Everyone had signed them, which was nice. I’ve given it to my mum. She loves all that stuff.

What are your favourite memories of the show?

Working with Matt Smith and Arthur was amazing. We’ve become such good friends. And running away from monsters – you don’t get that doing a normal TV drama so I’m going to miss that.

What are your favourite monsters?

The Weeping Angels. They’re the scariest. They tap into a really freaky psychological thing.

What bits won’t you miss?

It’s all been so much fun I can’t really pick anything. It requires a lot of stamina at times but I’ll miss it. The late-night shoots or when you’re shooting in a really cold castle can be challenging but we all go through it together. The more ridiculous it gets, the more fun it is.

How has your life changed since you joined the show?

Everything’s changed. The work is heavily scrutinised, you’re photographed in places where you might not expect it. It was a bit of an adjustment to make. People tell you but until it happens you’ve got no idea. I walked into it quite blindly. The pap stuff goes in waves depending on if the show is on or not. Getting your picture taken when you leave the house is always weird.

Have any of the fans taken it too far?

Some of them take it very seriously. I met one guy who said: ‘Hello, I’m River Song.’ I was like: ‘OK, what do you mean?’ and he showed me his ID. He’d changed it by deed poll. That was quite interesting. Then I met a guy who has a Doctor Who themed house. Apparently he’s got an elevator that looks like the TARDIS.

What’s the most unusual place you’ve been recognised?

In a casino in Las Vegas. I was playing some craps, then this family of four started screaming at me. They were saying: ‘Oh my god,’ and then the daughter started crying.

Are you off to Hollywood?

I don’t know about that. I’m shooting in London at the moment, then I’m doing a film in Alabama. It’s a horror film about a brother and sister. I’ll be doing it in an American accent.

Who have you learned the most from working with?

I learned so much from Matt Smith in terms of inventiveness and being in the moment and seeing where it takes you – that’s what I love most about acting now. We had a director called Adam Smith who said I needed to set myself free. It felt like I let everything go that was holding me back from being as good as I can be.

What are people’s misconceptions of you?

People are surprised I’m so down to earth when they meet me – I don’t know why. And maybe they think I’m like Amy. I’m not at all feisty in reality. I don’t have that attitude towards people and I’m quite flighty and disorganised.

What’s been your most extravagant purchase?

I’m paying for my dad to have an album made. He’s a singer, not professional, he just loves doing it. I got it as a Father’s Day present. I’m thinking of doing a duet with him but he’s far better than me.

What else do you want to do with your career?

More stage work but really just good quality projects. I want to do things that interest me. I want to write screenplays as well.  My favourite ever is The Piano Teacher and I loved Shame.

Who do you want to work with?

I’ve already worked with Olivia Colman on Doctor Who but I’d want to work with her again. I really respect her as an actress.

Source: Metro

DOCTOR WHO vs. NERDIST - All Star Celebrity Bowling

Published on Aug 28, 2012 by Nerdist

In an epic battle across time and space,Team Nerdist challenged Doctor Who and his companions to a competition for the ages. Their arena was an alien land filled with unusual creatures (San Diego Comic-Con International) and the game was one of the greatest of all time - BOWLING.

The Doctor Who All Star Celebrity Bowling Special premières Friday, August 31st as part of the Nerdist Channel's "Doctor Who-eekend". It's sure to be more fun than an Adipose weight loss program!

Source: YouTube