Hollywood actor Alan Cumming, who hoped to back independence in next year's referendum after buying a flat in Edinburgh, has revealed he cannot even cast a vote.

The Scots star said he is ineligible for the September 18 poll because he will be spending most of the year working on Broadway.

The Yes supporter wrote in his blog: "My main residence is in New York and I will be working there on Broadway for most of next year. I am ineligible to vote and have had to come off the electoral roll. I am obviously very sad to miss this opportunity to take an active part in deciding Scotland's future, but despite that I am determinded to use my voice and express my opinion - two traits that every Scotsman both deserves and holds dear."

He said he had bought the home because "I wanted a base in Scotland again, I wanted to be nearer my mum. I had been registered to vote in London and now registered in Edinburgh. I looked forward to being able to vote in the Independence referendum next year."

He said that although he is an optimist he has "recently been reminded that the greatest spur to optimism and positivity can actually be the very opposite: in my case the negativity, vitriol and malice of some quarters of the Scottish press regarding my buying a home in Edinburgh, and especially from the proponents of the No Campaign, or to give it its utterly cynical, formal moniker Better Together."