Biography
Gillian Leigh Anderson was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 9,
1968. Soon after her birth, the family relocated to Puerto Rico for 15 months and then
moved to England. Gillian spent the next 9 years of her childhood growing up in London's
North End - first in Stamford Hill and later in Crouch End - while her father Edward
studied film production at the London School of Film Technique in Covent Garden for 2
years. Eventually the family moved back to the U.S.A. and settled in Grand Rapids where
her father ran a film post-production company and her mother worked as a computer analyst.
Gillian's love for acting began when she decided to audition for a community play while
attending City High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
"Somehow, I have no idea how the transition was made from wanting to be an
archaeologist or a marine biologist, to wanting to be an actress, but it just kind of
happened," says Gillian.
As a child, Gillian showed a flair for drama but was more of a tomboy who harboured dreams
of becoming a Marine Biologist rather than those of movie stardom. "I loved digging
up worms and cutting them up into little pieces. In the interests of science, of
course!"
Her mother Rosemary recalls, "From the start Gillian had a real flare for the
dramatic. That has simply always been her personality. But the first time I knew something
was really up with her and acting was when she was 14 and a teacher assigned her the
"Romeo And Juliet" balcony scene. Gillian had no background in Shakespeare,
acting or anything remotely like it. Nobody on either side of our family had any
experience with acting. Her father was interested in film production, but that had mostly
been connected with industrial training films and commercials. But she studied that scene
and mastered it with no effort whatever. When she performed it for me my jaw just
dropped."
Before the acting bug hit, Gillian dabbled in the punk rocker scene. "I fainted when
it was inserted. My father was furious about it," Gillian tells of her and her
father's reactions regarding her nose ring.
"I was confused," is how Gillian puts her somewhat wild teen years. "I was
arrested on graduation night for breaking and entering into the high school," she
confessed in an interview for TV Guide.
Of course, growing up in England and then moving back to the U.S.A. was not a simple
thing, as her mother recalls: "The contrast was just incredible. Plus she missed all
the friends she had grown up with in London. And her classmates all thought she talked
funny because she didn't have an American accent. Gillian had to learn to speak like an
American for the first time in her life, just to fit in."
Gillian herself admits: "I was angry and it was my way of keeping people at a
distance." In a different interview, Gillian remembers, "I was always off in my
own little world or being sent to the principal's office for talking back." When the
acting bug hit, "My outlook changed, my grades went up and I was voted 'most improved
student'."
After graduating from City High School in 1986, Gillian studied acting at the prestigious
DePaul University's Goodman Theatre and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts.
In the summer after her freshman year, Gillian was selected to attend a three-week
workshop run by the National Theatre of Great Britain at Cornell in Ithaca, N.Y. Upon
obtaining her degree, Gillian headed to New York at the age of 22 to pursue a career in
acting.
Gillian's first big break came when she landed a role in the off Broadway play
"Absent Friends." She won a Theatre World Award in 1991 for her performance in
this production.
She did one more play, "The Philanthropist," at the Long Wharf Theatre in New
Haven, CT and a low budget film starring Tess Harper and Karen Allen called "The
Turning" before relocating to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film.
"First of all, I swore I'd never move to Los Angeles, and once I did, I swore I'd
never do television. It was only after being out of work for almost a year that I began
going in [to auditions] on some stuff that I would pray that I wouldn't get because I
didn't want to be involved in it." Nevertheless, she landed a guest appearance in the
short lived TV series "Class of 96." The title of the episode was "The
Accused" (episode No. 8).
In 1993, Gillian auditioned for a TV pilot of a newly formed Fox Network show called
"The X-Files." It was for the role of Special Agent Dana Scully. "I
couldn't put the script down," Gillian remembers. During the auditions, there was a
bit of 'behind the scenes' action. The executives at Fox wanted someone with less radiance
and more sex-appeal cast in the role of Scully, but writer-director Chris Carter insisted
that Gillian had the no-nonsense integrity that the role required. "I sort of staked
my pilot and my career at the time on Gillian. I feel vindicated everyday now," says
Chris Carter about his decision to stand firm on his choice for Scully.
As luck would have it, on the day Gillian's last unemployment check arrived, she found out
that she had won the role of Agent Scully and immediately flew to Vancouver to begin
shooting the pilot. "I didn't foresee at all that it was going to become as popular
as it has. I often thought, 'What have I gotten myself into?' The first year was the
hardest in terms of getting into the gruelling hours and sleep deprivation and having to
perform constantly, day in and day out," Gillian recalled of the first season.
On set, Gillian met Clyde Klotz, the series assistant art director at the time. "It
wasn't quite love at first sight," Gillian says of their three-month affair. "It
was Clyde's smile that first attracted me. He was very quiet, rugged and cool, but I soon
realised he had a lot to say and that he was a very intelligent man." On New Year's
Day of 1994, Gillian and Clyde flew to Hawaii and got married on the 17th hole of a golf
course. The only other person present was the Buddhist Monk that performed the ceremony.
"We sent a letter to my Mum and Dad, with a strict instruction not to open it until
New Year's Day. Mum had already met Clyde and my Dad was in a good mood that day, so they
were happy."
Gillian was back on the set of "The X-Files" two days later. A few months later
came the news that she was pregnant. She already knew what she wanted to do, but conceded
to "not completely thinking ahead about the consequences of that decision." The
first person she told on the set was co-star David Duchovny.
Her pregnancy came as shocking news to the Fox executives but Chris Carter once again
stuck by Gillian and refused to have Scully recast. "Part of the show's success is
the audience's investment in these characters," he said.
Gillian said, "It was a bit of a bombshell for them [the Fox executives]. It wasn't
in my contract not to get pregnant, but it is now."
Chris Carter then created an alien abduction storyline that kept Gillian off-camera long
enough for labor, delivery, and a 10-day maternity leave. "My feet were swelling and
I was exhausted, sleeping between scenes," Gillian remembers. Her daughter, Piper,
was born on September 25, 1994. Gillian had to undergo an unexpected caesarean section
that required her to spend the next six days in the hospital. Four days later, Gillian was
back on set shooting scenes for the episode "One Breath."
Of the experience, Gillian said, "During the first season, I didn't know who the hell
I was, let alone who this character was. I feel stronger as a person in the world now. I
remember, after going through the birthing process, feeling that no cut, no abrasions, no
knock on the head will make me whine again."
The proud new Mom happily declared, "I can't imagine not having Piper." She
chose Chris Carter to be her daughter's godfather.
For the next several years, Gillian continued to play the enigmatic Special Agent Dana
Scully and "The X-Files" received numerous awards and nominations through the
course of the series.
Gillian's portrayal of Dana Scully won her many nominations and these awards:
1996 Screen Actors Guild Award - Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama
Series
1997 Emmy - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
1997 Golden Globe - Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series, Drama
1997 Screen Actors Guild Award - Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama
Series
For a complete list of all Gillian's nominations and awards, see below.
1998 was one of the most eventful years of her career. "The X-Files" made a leap
to the big screen with the release of the summer blockbuster, "The X-Files: Fight the
Future." In autumn of that same year, Gillian had supporting roles in two more films:
"Hellcab" and "The Mighty." She demonstrated her extensive acting
range by playing characters that had absolutely no resemblance to Agent Scully.
Of these two films, she commented, "What I've done so far has been very different. I
played kind of a Southside Chicago chick, early 20s, in a movie called Chicago Cab and
then a middle-aged vintage biker-alcoholic in a movie called The Mighty. I tend to steer
away from those that are similar to Scully at all and, hopefully, will pull it off."
In 1999, Gillian continued to seek different and challenging roles by playing Meredith in
the ensemble film "Playing By Heart" and voicing the character of the Wolf God
Moro in the English version of the critically acclaimed award-winning Japanese animation
film "Princess Mononoke."
Gillian made "The X-Files" history in 2000 by becoming the first woman to write
and direct an episode of the series entitled "all things" (first broadcast on
April 9). "It was an amazing experience," she said. "I didn't realise how
much I was going to enjoy it. It was a process of doing something that you've never done
before, that you are both exhilarated by and terrified by at the same time."
"The House of Mirth," directed by Terence Davies, was released in December 2000
and marked Gillian's first starring role (Lily Bart) in a project unrelated to "The
X-Files." The film was listed among the top 10 films of the year 2000 by critics from
Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Film Comment, Newsday, the New York Daily News, the
Village Voice, and the New York Press. For her portrayal of Lily Bart, Gillian won the
British Independent Film Award for Best Actress and the Best Performance Award from the
Village Voice Film Critics' Poll.
Gillian said, "[What fascinates me most about Lily Bart is] the journey that she goes
on. No matter how many times I read the script, tears came to my eyes. There was just
something about it that was so tragic. The way that Terence was able to transfer the novel
to film, I think he did it very, very well. I honestly believe that our focus back then
and today, is in the wrong place in this Western world. As long as we continue to put our
focus [on material wealth] and not on the heart and in compassion for others and in the
wealth of love and giving and understanding, we will continue to be faced with the same
dilemmas that Lily is."
"The X-Files" finished its ninth and final season in May 2002 marking the end of
a large chapter in Gillian's life: "The fact of the matter is that I grew up during
the course of the show. I started when I was 24 and ended at almost 34. That's almost a
third of my life. There's a time for everything to end and I think this is the right time.
I think everybody in their own way is excited about moving on to other things."
For a complete change of pace, Gillian moved to London where, from November 2002 through
February 9, 2003, she starred in the Michael Weller play "What the Night is For"
in London's West End. Gillian had been yearning for the opportunity to return to the
stage. "I loved being in London. But what I loved the most, I think, and what I
learned from the most, was about the 'moment to moment' focus that takes place in live
theatre."
What's next for Gillian? In 2001, she optioned the novel "The Speed of Light,"
by Elizabeth Rosner. She is currently working on the screenplay for the film, which she
also plans to direct. "Directing was a transformative experience for me, one that I
really enjoyed. When I picked up this book and started reading the poetry of her words, I
found myself trying to visualise where the camera should be, the colours of the
characters, the texture of the shots. It felt so intimate and natural, like I wrote it
myself. I took the steps to option it, something I'd never done before. It's a beautiful
piece that needs to see the light of day and hopefully I can do it justice."
On June 26, 2003, Gillian told her fans, "You will be happy to know that before the
end of the year I will be doing one and maybe even two films. You will be filled in with
the details once they are confirmed, but in the meantime keep your knickers on! I have
been living my life for once in nine years and I am having a fantastic time of it and I
deserve to take as long as I damn well please before jumping into the grind of the
business again. And you should also know right here right now that I will never be one of
those actresses that jumps from project to project. Life is just too short and there is so
much to do and so much to see. But other than that, thanks for your support."
In the meantime, Gillian the Activist continues to promote awareness for many charitable
causes such as Neurofibromatosis, Inc., Neurofibromatosis Association (UK), Buskaid, South
Africa's Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), and Tusk Trust.
In a message to her fans dated July 30, 2003, she encouraged everyone to remain involved
in helping others:
"Many of you have been asking where to send gifts for my birthday. I would prefer no
gifts for myself but if you could make donations to the Gilbert and Samson Fund (Buskaid),
that would be much appreciated.
To find out more about Buskaid and the other charities Gillian supports, visit the Official Gillian Anderson
Website
Career
Movies
House of Mirth (2000)
Princess Mononoke (1999)
Playing by Heart (1999)
The X-Files: Fight the Future (1998)
Hellcab (1998)
The Mighty (1998)
The Turning (1992)
A Matter of Choice (1988)
Three at Once (1986)
Television
The X-Files (1993 - 2002)
Future Fantastic (1996)
Why Planes Go Down (1997)
Spies Above (1996)
Theatre
What the Night is For (2002-03)
The Vagina Monologues (1999/2000)
The Philanthropist (1992)
Absent Friends (1991)
Guest Appearances
The History Channel's Great American History Quiz (2000)
Harsh Realm (1999)
Frasier (1999)
The Simpsons (1997)
ReBoot (1995)
Class of '96 (1993)
Other Projects
Exit to Eden (Audiobook)
Ground Zero (Audiobook, 1995)
Hellbender (Game, 1996)
The X-Files (Game)
"Extremis" (CD Single, 1997)
Ford Explorer Radio Ads (2002)
Digital Satellite TV Ad (1999)
Awards
For her role as Agent Scully in The X-Files:
Blockbuster Entertainment Award: Favourite Sci-Fi Actress Won (1999)
Emmy Award: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Nominated (1996, 1998, 1999) Won
(1997)
Golden Globes: Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series (Drama) Nominated (1996,
1998, 1999) Won (1997)
Golden Satellite Award: Best Performance by an Actress in a Series, Drama Nominated (1997,
1998, 1999, 2001)
National Television Award (UK): Most Popular Actress Nominated (1996, 1997)
Saturn Award: Best Actress in TV Series Nominated (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002) Won (1997)
Sci-Fi Universe Magazine Reader's Choice Award: Best Actress in a Genre TV Series Won
(1995)
Screen Actors Guild Award: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Nominated (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001) Won (1996, 1997)
TV Guide Awards: Favourite Actress in a Drama Nominated (1999, 2000)
Viewers for Quality Television Award: Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series Won (1998,
1999) Nominated (1995)
For her role as Lily Bart in The House of Mirth:
British Independent Film Award: Best Actress Won (2000)
Golden Satellite Award: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
Nominated (2001)
London Critics Circle Film Award: Actress of the Year Nominated (2001)
Village Voice Film Critics Poll: Best Performance Won (2000)
Details from the Official Gillian
Anderson Website
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