Alan Cumming Describes His "Bond Villain" Role Hosting 'The Traitors'

The veteran actor is saying "wilkommen" to a new role: Reality TV host.

For almost 40 years, Alan Cumming has helmed an extraordinary career, making his mark on film, television, and stage. But on January 12, the Tony and Olivier Award-winning actor will get to play a brand-new role: Reality TV host.

"I've been so excited," Cumming tells Parade in an exclusive interview for his upcoming series The Traitors. "When you try to describe it to people, it's so nuts. It's the bonkers combination of many things, and then also me playing a character hosting it. I'm actually really happy that people will be able to see it. And to understand why I've been rabbiting on about for the last eight months."

 This "bonkers combination" he's referring to is the game of The Traitors, a high-stakes version of the party game "Mafia." Originally adapted from the Dutch series De Verraders, the show involves a group of people where three have been branded as "Traitors." In every episode, they are given the opportunity to "murder" one player, eliminating them from the game. But the Traitors must try to stay undetected, because the remaining players will then vote to banish one person they believe is a Traitor. Whichever contingency survives to the end receives their share of a prize fund raised by various missions throughout the season.

Read below for our interview with Alan Cumming, where he talks about what got him on board with The Traitors and how he thinks he'd do as a player. The Traitors premieres with all ten episodes dropping on January 12 on Peacock.

The Traitors is a very different type of project for you. How exactly did you get involved?
I was approached. They sent me the Dutch version to get the hang of it. So I watched that, and I was obsessed. But I was confused initially as to why they asked me. I may have hosted things, but I don't really think it's my sort of thing. Then I realized it was going to be this character, a sort of heightened version of myself. Kind of like a Bond villain. It is the true definition of camp, which I really like.

That's what got me. I realized, "Oh, this could be such a hoot." And then I get to wear this ridiculous wardrobe. And so it was just a lark. And also, I quite liked going off and doing something new that I'd never experienced before. And I loved it! I had such a blast. I had become completely invested in what was happening in the show. I would I couldn't go to bed until I got the text from the producer knowing who'd been killed that night.

How tough was it for you to maintain that objectivity as a host while you were gaining an emotional investment in the players and how they felt?
It was really hard. I mean, first of all, having to have a poker face when things were revealed. That was hard. And I've been doing the voiceover and everything over the last few weeks. And a producer tells me I really do not have a poker face at all! (Laughs.) Like I gasp at something that happens and they had to take it out. But I actually really enjoyed the drama of it. It was so hilarious.

I mean, there's a lot going on. It was a lot when you have the information and they don't. I just talk to them about stuff. And I know that what they're talking about is not going to happen. That got even tougher as they got down to the end. And the finale was really tough because people were saying what they were going to do with the money. It's like, "You're not winning, darling." It was awful.

How collaborative were you with production on the set? Did they give you a script for everything, or were you able to create your own lines?
There was a writer and a producer on set. It was being written as we went along. I quote Shakespeare and Plato and all these things in the roundtables. When I go in in the mornings, there's always some sort of weird I'm saying. So it was actually really fun to put that into it and find a language. So it was actually very collaborative. And that's another reason why I wanted to do it. I actually really enjoy being a part of that. I know I'm playing a character, but I'm called "Alan Cumming" in it. So obviously, I want to have some involvement in what comes out of my mouth.

How do you think you would do if you were sitting at the roundtable instead of standing over it? Do you think you could suss out the Traitors or be good at deceiving others?
From standing on the outside and watching people, I see that they get very quickly into this pack mentality. They think that that person is a Traitor because today they did this. And I'm like, "No, the reason they're a Traitor is because I tapped him on the shoulder, dopey!" (Laughs.) They say things like, "I can't believe they lied," and it's called The Traitors.

I think I would be quite good. Because now, I've seen an example of that. I think you've got to stand outside. When you're in the group and part of the frenzy, it's hard to be objective. But I think I would enjoy lying. I would make it a sort of an acting thing. But I think the biggest thing is I would try and resist the pack mentality. But you've got to go with the flow. And you've got to, because they might think you're a Traitor because you're not in the pack.

As that person who watched everything from above, what surprised you most about this group on The Traitors?
What surprised me was how some people went out very quickly. And how some people stayed in for an inordinate amount of time when I thought it was obvious they were "the person." I guess what surprised me was the way that the seeds were planted about their mistrust of someone, how that sort of blossomed. It's a fascinating study of psychology, and I just had such a blast. I mean, I really did. This is my favorite thing I did in 2022 by far, and I've done some really great things!

Next, here's everything to know about the current season 5 of The Circle on Netflix.