Alan Cumming is a man in constant motion. A Tony and Emmy Award–winning actor, singer, writer and advocate, Cumming can be found across the globe — and, these days, playing an exaggerated version of himself on Peacock’s hit series “The Traitors.”
Cumming’s increased visibility is undoubtedly tied to his headline-snatching sartorial choices, a long-established element of his celebrity that has been amplified during his time on “The Traitors.”
Now in its third season, the show is more popular than ever.
“People are obsessed with it,” Cumming said on GBH’s The Culture Show. “When people say they’re going to start watching, I say, ‘Be warned. It is like crack. You’ll miss all your appointments that day.’“
The hit reality TV series was a departure from his other on-screen roles.
“I never thought I would be hosting a competition reality show,” Cumming said. “But I’m not, really — I’m playing a character.”
That character is, as Cumming puts it, a Shakespeare-quoting, Machiavellian fashion diva.
“The tone of each episode is reflected in what I wear,” he said. “I always go out of my way to praise costume designers for how much they give actors. Much of my character work is just pinched and appropriated from costume designers.”
The show’s costume designer Sam Spector — who is also Cumming’s personal stylist — had the unique challenge of crafting a character rooted in Alan Cumming himself. As Cumming himself admits, he owns “thousands” of tartan suits.
Listen to the full conversation on The Culture Show.