Alan Cumming says his role as Leo in the five-episode limited series “Tip Toe” is the acting work he is most proud of, even though filming left him eager to put the character behind him. Speaking to IndieWire, Cumming described the experience as grueling and traumatic, particularly the extended sequence depicting Leo’s death.
Created and written by Russell T. Davies, “Tip Toe” follows Leo, a queer bartender, in the days before he is killed by his volatile, bigoted neighbor Clive, played by David Morrissey. The series also centers on Leo’s friendship with George, Clive’s teenage son, who is privately questioning his sexuality. Its opening scene shows Leo’s death, an event the finale returns to.
Cumming said he connected deeply with Leo and was able to draw on his own life and experiences. He also understood why Leo continued to trust Clive, describing himself as someone who can tolerate bad behavior for too long, look for the best in people and try to please others.
The finale’s hanging scene was especially difficult to film and took several days. Cumming said he did not understand how affected he had been until the series was released. The young performers playing the men who kill Leo supported him on set, stopping to hug him after filming the scenes.
Davies recalled that he won Cumming over by describing the first scene during a video call. Cumming said the two had tried to work together for years before “Tip Toe” came together, and that he had kept his schedule open a year in advance for the production.
Cumming praised Davies’ writing for giving both Leo and Clive complexity, rather than presenting the conflict as a simple opposition between a cruel straight man and a victimized gay man. He also said the series reflects how hateful rhetoric has become normalized and hopes it will prompt discussion.
All five episodes of “Tip Toe” are streaming on Starz.
Sources: IndieWire.