Alan Cumming, known for his diverse filmography, recently shared his thoughts on his role in the 2003 film “X2: X-Men United,” where he portrayed the character Nightcrawler. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Cumming highlighted the significance of this superhero film within his career.
“I think the X-Men film I’m in is the gayest film that I’ve ever done, and that’s me saying that,” Cumming stated. “It’s got a queer director, lots of queer actors in it. I love the fact that something so mainstream and so in the comic book world is so queer.”
Cumming elaborated on how films like “X2” help in fostering understanding about queerness. “I think, in a way, those sorts of films really help people understand queerness because you can address it in an artistic way, and everyone is less scared of the concept. It’s an allegory about queerness, about people having these great gifts and really great, powerful things that they have to hide to exist. Queer people understand what that’s all about.”
Reflecting on his initial encounter with the X-Men universe, Cumming revealed in a post on his official website that he “had never heard of the X-Men” before discussing the role with the director. Despite the compelling nature of the character and the film’s message of tolerance, the physical demands of the role were a challenge.
“The character is really interesting, the message of the film (tolerance of others who are different from us) was very timely and unusual for a Hollywood blockbuster, but the real drag was having to spend over four hours a day having two men poke my face,” Cumming shared. “Then there were the harnesses for the tail and for flying, the feet, the hands — which made going to the loo a group effort, the teeth, the lenses, oh God don’t get me started.”
Nightcrawler, the character Cumming brought to life, is a teleporting superhero and a beloved member of the X-Men. Through his portrayal, Cumming contributed to a film that resonated with many for its deeper themes of acceptance and identity.
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