STV NewsBrian Cox has described his directorial debut, Glenrothan, as a “love letter” to Scotland.
The 79‑year‑old actor both stars in and directs the new film, which also features Alan Cumming and Shirley Henderson, and is released in UK cinemas on Friday.
The drama follows two estranged brothers who reunite after decades apart at their family‑run whisky distillery in the Highlands.
Cox plays Sandy, a distillery owner in failing health, while Cumming stars as his younger brother Donal, who returns from the United States after more than 30 years away.
The film marks Cox’s first time directing a feature, something he says was never part of his plan.
However, he insists taking the director’s chair was not his idea, and says longtime collaborator and writer David Ashton pushed him to take on the role.
He told What’s On Scotland: “The producer came to me and said, ‘We’re doing this film that you’re going to direct,’ and I said, ‘Hold on, what?’ They said, ‘You’re going to direct this film.’ And I said, ‘Do I not have any say in the matter?’ He said, ‘Not really, no.’
“I’ve worked with David Ashton on scripts for 20 years on the radio doing McLevy. I never, ever expected to direct a movie at my age. I genuinely thought it would never happen – it wasn’t in my plan at all. But it was an incredible experience.”
STV NewsCox said he adopted a deliberately relaxed and “egalitarian” approach on set to allow performances to develop naturally.
He said: “Everybody is equal. We work together as a body. The great thing about this script is that it’s so wonderfully inclusive of everybody.
“You let people do their work. Don’t tell them, ‘I want you to do this,’ because I don’t know – I’m as clueless as they are. You have to admit that, and then it becomes much more organic.”
Known internationally for roles ranging from Cabaret on stage to The Good Wife and X‑Men on screen, Aberfeldy-born Alan Cumming plays Donal, returning to the Highlands after decades away.
Cox said his co-star is “incredible”.
“This is an Alan Cumming we don’t see too often,” he said.
“He’s great to work with. You don’t really have to direct Alan. You just have to put him in the right frame, and he hits it straight away. I think he enjoyed it.”
STV NewsHe also praised Shirley Henderson, who plays Jess, a key figure in the running of the distillery. Her credits include Trainspotting, Bridget Jones’s Diary and the Harry Potter films.
Describing the 60‑year‑old as “one of the great actresses”, he said: “When you’ve got the great Shirley Henderson, you can’t go wrong.
“She’s very passionate about the fact that she doesn’t travel. She’s a Dunfermline girl – and she’ll always be a Dunfermline girl. That’s what I love about her.”
The actor said the story’s Scottish setting and focus on human connection were what drew him to the project.
He added: “It’s a love letter. If I was ever going to do a film about Scotland, this would be the film I wanted to do.
“It’s about relationships, about how we are as human beings. It has elements of sentiment to it, and I’m all for that.”
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