Alan Cumming

Macbeth' was the first play I ever read. In fact, I remember my brother Tom, who is six years older than me, coming home from school and telling me about it. He was the one that really got me going. ”

Pantomime is a big thing in the cultural calendar of my country, you know. So subtlety's not my forte. ”

I was so scared of going back to the theatre after 'Hamlet.' I didn't know if I'd do a play again because I was afraid of the power of it. ”

Once in a while it's good to challenge yourself in a way that's really daunting. ”

Performing a one-man Macbeth feels like the greatest challenge. ”

I started to itch to do a play again and 'Macbeth' came to the surface in my mind. I never thought I would do it in a conventional way. A sweaty Macbeth with blood on his arms coming in fresh from the battle doesn't interest me. ”

A sweaty Macbeth with blood on his arms coming in fresh from the battle doesn't interest me. ”

In my first year at drama school, I did this kids' show called 'Let's See.' ”

Kids are more genuine. When they come up and want to talk to you, they don't have an agenda. It's more endearing and less piercing to your aura. ”

When you're on TV, you come into people's homes. In theater and film, they go to you - to the temple of the cinema or theater. And it's very different. ”