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·The Art of Playing ALAN CUMMING

Alan Cumming holding chess pieces up to his temples in front of a chess board for an InStyle U.S. feature.

Portrait of Alan Cumming wearing a red jacket and an elaborate black lace headpiece against a grey background.

Alan Cumming seated on a wooden chair in black attire holding glossy black gloves near a chess table with a large mirror.

Alan Cumming seated at a wooden table with a chess set in a dark moody studio portrait for InStyle U.S.

Alan Cumming wearing a tall black hat and red cape covering his face against a grey studio backdrop.

Alan Cumming in a red cape and tall black hat against a light wall with a dramatic shadow behind him.

Alan Cumming wearing a red vest over white and a black lace headpiece, shouting with expression in a studio portrait.

Portrait of Alan Cumming wearing a gold crown and theatrical makeup against a dark background for InStyle U.S.

Alan Cumming in a red satin cape and tall dark mitre hat against a grey seamless background

Alan Cumming tossing a gold crown in the air while wearing an ornate white ruffled coat against a neutral studio backdrop.

Alan Cumming in black clothing and leather gloves playing chess, reflected in a mirror for InStyle U.S.

Alan Cumming wearing a gold crown and long white textured cloak standing on a black and white checkerboard floor

Alan Cumming in a bright red coat holding a chessboard while chess pieces scatter through the air in a studio

Alan Cumming wearing a structured white textured coat with prominent shoulders against a neutral studio background

Portrait of Alan Cumming wearing a black beanie and black top against a neutral studio background for InStyle U.S.

Alan Cumming wearing a red coat and a dark crown holding a decorated white bag against a plain wall

Alan Cumming in dark clothing holding boxing gloves up in front of a dark cabinet for InStyle U.S.

A wooden chair and a small table with a chess set positioned in front of a tall dark mirror on a seamless studio backdrop.

Alan Cumming wearing a black beanie and dark clothing reaching toward the camera against a neutral background

Alan Cumming in theatrical red and white costume with a black headdress for InStyle US feature

InStyle U.S. The Art of Playing ALAN CUMMING 2026

About

In The Art of Playing ALAN CUMMING, InStyle U.S. delivers a masterclass in editorial portraiture, framing the multihyphenate performer through the conceptual lens of high-stakes strategy and theatrical artifice. Photographer Eric Michael Roy captures Cumming as a shape-shifting protagonist, leaning into a series of cinematic tableaus that utilize the chessboard as both a literal prop and a metaphorical device for the actor's mercurial talent. The aesthetic trajectory of the shoot ranges from low-key chiaroscuro studies to high-energy captures featuring surreal, suspended chess pieces, effectively blurring the line between the subject and his reflection. Central to this visual narrative is the meticulous styling by fashion editors Kevin Huynh and Sam Spector, who curate a wardrobe of vibrant red satin capes, architectural black lace headdresses, and metallic jacquard jackets. This visual texture is amplified by set designer Amy Jo Diaz, whose minimalist studio environments—often employing neutral backdrops and stark floor patterns—ensure that the focus remains anchored on Cumming's expressive performance. Utilizing a dynamic mix of studio strobe lighting and dramatic natural light, the project reads as an intimate, sophisticated meditation on performance itself. By oscillating between playful, mischievous vignettes and stoic, regal silhouettes, the team creates a compelling archive that celebrates the artistry inherent in Cumming's enduring, chameleonic career within the landscape of modern media and entertainment.