The fantasy lover of geeks everywhere, this diminutive actress became a huge star when cast as a skeptical special agent on the sci-fi series
The X Files in 1993. While she radiated intelligence and a subtle sensuality, her lack of experience (she had only a handful of roles under her belt) and atypical beauty made her a hard sell to narrow-minded network executives. But series creator Chris Carter insisted that she be hired, and Anderson played the character throughout all nine seasons, one feature film and a couple of video games. During her tenure, she underwent a major makeover (slimmer figure, redder hair, sculpted eyebrows) and ventured onto the big screen, notably as an independent but doomed late-19th-century woman in 2000's
House of Mirth. While she gave a winning performance, the movie was a box office disappointment, and audiences seemed reluctant to accept her as anyone other than her
X Files alter ego. After the series ended in 2003, she left Hollywood and relocated to England (where she had spent much of her childhood), appearing on the London stage and in British films and TV shows.
Gillian Anderson Fast Facts:- Wanted to be a marine biologist when she was young.
- Spent much of her childhood (ages 2 to 11) in London's North End, before her family returned to the U.S. and settled in Grand Rapids, MI.
- Studied with a National Theatre of Great Britain training class at Cornell University.
- Won a Theatre World Award in 1991 for her role in Absent Friends.
- Received her last unemployment check the same day she was cast in the pilot episode of The X-Files; was cast on the series at the insistence of show creator Chris Carter after the Fox network initially resisted hiring her.
- In comparing herself to X-Files character Dana Scully, she told TV GUIDE in 1996 that "I'm not that intelligent. I don't have that reference matter in my head. I'm more spontaneous. I laugh. I'm crass. I'm raunchy."
- Wrote and directed the 2000 X-Files episode "All Things."
- Announced that she had separated from her second husband, Julian Ozanne, in April, 2006.
- Gillian Anderson Relationships:
- Aaron Anderson - Brother
- Edward Anderson - Father
- Errol Clyde Klotz - Ex-husband
- Julian Ozanne - Husband (separated)
- Mark Griffiths - Significant Other
- Oscar - Son
- Piper Maru Anderson - Daughter
- Rosemary Anderson - Mother
- Zoe Anderson - Sister
- Gillian Anderson Awards:
- 2007 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television - Nominee
- 1996 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama - Nominee
- 1997 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama - Winner
- 1998 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama - Nominee
- 1999 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama - Nominee
- 1996 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - Nominee
- 1997 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - Winner
- 1998 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - Nominee
- 1999 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - Nominee
- 2006 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie - Nominee
- College:
- DePaul University, Chicago, IL (BFA, 1990)
