The 5-Minute Interview: Alan Cumming, Actor

The Hollywood star has performed in 'Golden Eye', the X-Men sequel 'X2: X-Men United' and the 'Spy Kids' films. He hosted a gala performance of 'Angels in America' last night in aid of the National Aids Trust at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be...

Probably doing something involving sleep. I have been working crazy hours and flying lots of places. Luckily I am a good napper. It must be terrible to be one of those people who can't nap.

A phrase I use far too often...

"That's hilarious" is what people always say when they imitate me.

I wish people would take more notice of...

Recycling. And it should be law for every new building to have solar panels and other energy-saving things installed.

The most surprising thing that happened to me was...

Finding out that kilts were invented to make it easier for Scots to work in early factories and tartans were doled out to different clans by the Scottish society of London. Read The Invention of Tradition by Eric Hobsbawm. It's an eye-opener.

A common misperception of me is...

That my name has an "s" on the end of it or that I am loud and wacky and will always want to be the life and soul of the party.

I am not a politician but...

That doesn't mean I can't affect events. Why aren't we demonstrating and protesting any more? Online petitions are the new marches. In America I am shocked about how apathetic people are about politics. And I hate, hate, hate it when famous people say they're not political, because everyone is political. What they're really saying is that they're stupid.

I'm good at...

Making people feel comfortable.

I'm very bad at...

Going to bed early.

The ideal night out is...

Being with my man in New York city, having dinner and drinking and meeting up with friends.

The best age to be is...

Whenever it is that you realise you can't change the past but you can change the future.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is this:

Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.

Sara Newman