Actor Alan Cumming, who is hosting the 2026 Bafta Film Awards tonight (February 22), suffered a traumatic childhood because of his father.
The Scottish star, who also fronts the US version of The Traitors, has been vocal about his horrific abuse in past interviews.
Alan Cumming and his traumatic relationship with dad
In November 2021, Alan opened up about his father, who was violent and beat him up, with Big Issue.
“At 15, my main focus concern was on trying to avoid being hit by my father, and hoping to get out of my home situation,” he said.
“My brother had left home by then so I was alone with my father and I felt very desperate. I was just living in terror. But at the same time, at school I was starting to do some acting in plays, so that was a big change. And I think by then I was also going along to the theatre club in Carnoustie.”
Alan, who is bisexual, said that around this time, his “sexuality was beginning to raise its adolescent head”.
At age 16, Alan left school and “went to work for DC Thomson”. He said that was “when everything suddenly changed for me, even more dramatically than when I went to drama school”.
Alan elaborated: “”
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