THEATRE / N B: Alan Cumming, actor

ALAN CUMMING, actor

Background: Born in Perthshire, Scotland. Trained at the RSAMD, Glasgow. 28 years old.

First sighted: As Barry of camp comic act Victor and Barry.

Credentials: Good looks, brilliant comic ability. Regularly nominated for Olivier Awards (Conquest of the South Pole in 1988, La Bete in 1992) and won one for best comedy performance in 1991 (Accidental Death of an Anarchist).

Most memorable performance: As Valerein David Hirson's La Bete, in which he held sway with a non-stop 30 minute speech in rhyming couplets '. . . proof of an amazing and dazzling new stellar talent' (Jack Tinker, Daily Mail).

Watch out for: His Hamlet. Cumming gives his Dane at the Donmar Warehouse from tomorrow. Described on tour as 'a spiky young malcontent, tense, nervy and quick-tempered' (John Peter, Sunday Times).

Next possible sighting MC in Cabaret at the Donmar in December. 'I'm going to make the part sleazy and dirty' (Times).

(Photograph omitted)