Alan Cumming to Host Movies for Grownups Awards

Actor, singer, and author Alan Cumming will host Movies for Grownups Awards with AARP The Magazine, airing Feb. 23 on PBS. And starting March 11, he stars in the new CBS series Instinct, as a professor on the hunt for a serial killer. His character is “sort of a kooky academic,” the actor says. “He’s an eccentric person and very confounding. I like that about him.” The actor also talked with AARP about his life — behind the scenes.

Golden Age

When I turned 50 a few years ago, I felt really excited, very energized, kind of inspired by it. I feel really connected to young people, and I feel like I have some wisdom and can be a mentor.

Soup’s On

I’m a vegan and a big fan of soup, especially a curry soup. If it’s water and got vegetables in it, I’m in. Filming Instinct, the showrunner calls me Soup because I have soup at least two times a day.

Tartan Pride

I think Scotland is a very soulful country, a very beautiful country. And being open and welcoming and friendly and standing up against injustice — those are really Scottish traits, and they’re all things I think are important. Also, we Scots really appreciate the importance of letting go and having a drink and relaxing. We’re big on that.

Where I Unwind

The thing that most chills me out is going to my place in the Catskills in upstate New York. It’s up a hill in the middle of nowhere and really reminds me of where I grew up. I like being in the middle of a forest. I love wandering around in the trees.

My Biggest Honor

I appreciate awards for performing, but I’m actually more proud of the awards I’ve gotten for being a good person. Especially the OBE that I got from the queen — it wasn’t just for my work but for helping secure LGBT rights in America and Britain. For some young little gay person to see me getting an award like that from the queen is a really big, positive message to send out to the world.