THE
MANUAL
Q&A
whether he’s dressing
downLadyGaga for
wearing fur, hammeringBarackObamaover
hisgay-rightspolicyor fightingvociferously for
Scottish independence, TheGoodWifeactor
AlanCumminghasneverbeenafraid to speakhis
mind.Givenhis track record for shooting from
the lip, it comesas little surprise that hisnew
book,NotMyFather’sSon, isanopenandhonest
memoirwith someextraordinary twists. Its release
followsa tumultuous fewyears for theentertainer,
duringwhichhenot onlydiscoveredhismaternal
grandfatherdiedwhileplayingRussian roulette, but
alsohad todealwitha shocking revelation fromhis
abusivedad.Nowonderhispolicy, ashe reveals, is
alwaysbetterout than in…
Yournewbook isalreadywinning fans for its
no-punches-pulled revelations.Was itcathartic
towrite?
“Yes, in someways thebookwas like therapy for
meand I learneda lot aboutmyselfwriting it. For
instance, itwasaneye-opener that I havemental
illnessonboth sidesofmy family. I can’tbelieve
howwell balanced I am.”
Areyouworried that itsdarkcontentmight
changepeople’sperceptionof you?
“It’scertainlynerve-racking tobe revealing somuch
of yourself, so I amgirdingmy loins. But I feel it’s
kindof necessaryand time forme toget that story
out, and from theearly feedback that I’vehad, it
doeshelppeople realise theycanovercome things.”
You’reapassionateScot.Whatdoyoumissabout
thecountry, beingbased inNewYork?
“Imiss the senseof humour and the spiritof the
place. Fortunately, I gobackand forthbetween
ScotlandandAmerica. I thinkScottishnessplays
abigpart inmebeing forthright, in fact. I don’t think
wearegoodat holdingbackouropinions.”
Youhavea recipe forstoviesonyourwebsite.
HowoftendoyoumakeScottishdishes?
“Quiteoften, actually. It’sabigScottish thing to
haveabigpotof food, invitepeoplearoundand
have somedrinks.”
AS TOLD TO
PIERRE DE VILLIERS
PHOTO
KEVIN THOMAS GARCIA
05.
HOWTO
BEOUTSPOKEN
ANDGET
AWAYWITH IT,
LIKEALAN
CUMMING
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