SHAH ALAM - Scottish actor, writer and presenter, Alan Cumming’s birthday gift to himself was returning an award from the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The actor, 58 is no longer an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, which was awarded to him in 2009 for his work as an actor and as an activist during her birthday honors celebration.
It was reported that Alan had decided to do so as a way of distancing himself from the historical "toxicity” of the monarchy
"Fourteen years ago, I was incredibly grateful to receive it in the 2009 Queen’s birthday honours list, for it was awarded not just for my job as an actor but ‘for my activism ," he wrote on his Instagram account.
The actor went on to explain in the caption how the queen's death in September last year had brought to light a difficult subject.
"Conversations about the role of monarchy and especially the way the British Empire profited at the expense (and death) of indigenous peoples across the world, really opened my eyes.”
"So I returned my award, explained my reasons and reiterated my great gratitude for being given it in the first place. I’m now back to being plain old Alan Cumming again,” he wrote in the instagram post