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Gillian Anderson Biography

Birth Name:Gillian Leigh Anderson

Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, United States

Profession Actress, Soundtrack, Director, Writer, Producer

Fast Facts

  • Known for playing the role of Dana Scully in the series "The X-Files․"
  • Promotes awareness for charitable causes including Neurofibromatosis, Inc․, the Neurofibromatosis Association, Buskaid, ACTSA, PETA and the Zimbabwe Benefit Foundation
  • Supports South Africa's Treatment Action Campaign, raising awareness for the difficulties that Africa is experiences with AIDS and campaigns for Action for Southern Africa, which raises funds to help Africans living with HIV and AIDS
  • Wanted to be a marine biologist or an archeologist as a child, and was part of the punk rock scene as a teen before deciding to audition for an acting company
  • Quote: "Somehow, I have no idea how the transition was made from wanting to be an archeologist or a marine biologist, to wanting to be an actress, but it just kind of happened"
  • Best known for her portrayal of Special Agent Dana Scully in "The X-Files" television series and movies and even wrote and directed one of the episodes of the series, becoming the first woman to do so
  • Makes an active effort to avoid being typecast, seeking out roles that differ widely from one another
  • Found out that she had won the role of Agent Scully on "The X-Files" on the same day that her last unemployment check arrived
  • Was voted "Class Clown" and "Most Likely to be Arrested" by her classmates during high school

Awards

  • 1993TV Guide Award-Actress of the Year in a New Series: winner
  • 1994Q Award-Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series: nominated
  • 1995Universe Reader's Choice Award-Best Actress in a Genre TV Series: winner
  • 1995Q Award-Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series: nominated
  • 1996Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1996Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 1996National Television Award-Most Popular Actress: nominated
  • 1996Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1996Telegatto-Best Foreign TV series (Miglior Telefilm Straniero): winner
  • 1996Q Award-Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series: nominated
  • 1997Saturn Award-Best Genre TV Actress: winner
  • 1997Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1997Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1997Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama: winner
  • 1997National Television Award-Most Popular Actress: nominated
  • 1997OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Series: nominated
  • 1997OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1997Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1997SFX Award-Best SF/Fantasy Actress in 1996: winner
  • 1997Golden Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Series, Drama: nominated
  • 1997TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Drama: nominated
  • 1997Q Award-Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series: nominated
  • 1998Saturn Award-Best Genre TV Actress: nominated
  • 1998Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1998Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1998Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 1998OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1998OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Series: winner
  • 1998Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1998Golden Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Series, Drama: nominated
  • 1998Q Award-Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series: winner
  • 1999Saturn Award-Best Genre TV Actress: nominated
  • 1999Saturn Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 1999Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1999Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1999Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Actress - Sci-Fi: winner
  • 1999Chainsaw Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 1999Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 1999OFTA Film Award-Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Actress: winner
  • 1999OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1999Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1999Golden Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Series, Drama: nominated
  • 1999TV Guide Award-Favorite Actress in a Drama: nominated
  • 1999Q Award-Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series: winner
  • 2000Saturn Award-Best Genre TV Actress: nominated
  • 2000Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2000British Independent Film Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 2000NYFCC Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2000OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2000TV Guide Award-Favorite Actress in a Drama: nominated
  • 2000VVFP Award-Best Performance: winner
  • 2001Saturn Award-Best Actress on Television: nominated
  • 2001Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2001ALFS Award-Actress of the Year: nominated
  • 2001NSFC Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2001OFTA Film Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2001Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama: nominated
  • 2001Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actress in a Series, Drama: nominated
  • 2001TFCA Award-Best Performance, Female: nominated
  • 2002Saturn Award-Best Actress in a Television Series: nominated
  • 2002Chlotrudis Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2002Audience Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 2005Audience Award-Best International Actress: winner
  • 2006BAFTA TV Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2006Broadcasting Press Guild Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 2006Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Lead Actress: nominated
  • 2006OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: winner
  • 2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
  • 2006Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2007Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2010Irina Palm-Worst British Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2011BAFTA TV Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2011OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2012Broadcasting Press Guild Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2012Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries: nominated
  • 2012Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2012OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2012Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2013Dagger-Best Leading Actress: nominated
  • 2013OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2014BTVA Anime Dub Movie/Special Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in an Anime Feature Film/Special: nominated
  • 2014Broadcasting Press Guild Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2014Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actress: nominated
  • 2014INOCA TV-Best Guest Actress in a Drama or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2015Chainsaw Award-Best TV Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2015INOCA TV-Best Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2015Golden Nymph-Outstanding Actress in a Drama TV Series: nominated
  • 2015Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Series, Drama: nominated
  • 2015Gold Panda-Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2016Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actress on Television: nominated
  • 2016Saturn Award-Best Actress on Television: nominated
  • 2016Chainsaw Award-Best TV Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2017Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actress: nominated
  • 2017Webby Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 2018Saturn Award-Best Actress on Television: nominated
  • 2018Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2019Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actress of the Decade: nominated
  • 2019IGN Award-Best Comedic TV Performance: nominated
  • 2019OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2020Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2020IGN Award-Best Dramatic TV Performance: nominated
  • 2021Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2021Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2021Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2021Dorian Award-Best Supporting TV Performance: nominated
  • 2021Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2021Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Supporting Role: winner
  • 2021HCA Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series, Drama: winner
  • 2021OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2021Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries & Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2021Queerty-TV Performance: nominated
  • 2022Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actress - Television: nominated
  • 2022Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Guest Actress: nominated
  • 2022OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated