Gillian Anderson F.A.Q.
Gillian Anderson
1. Who is Gillian Anderson?
Gillian Anderson is the actress who plays Special Agent Dana Scully, on the Fox Network's "The X-Files" on Friday nights.
2. How is Gillian pronounced?
Jill'-ee-un.
3. Where does she come from?
Gillian was born on August 9, 1968 in Chicago, IL, to Ed and Rosemary Anderson and is one of 3 children. She lived in
Puerto Rico, and then in London, so her father could attend a film school there (Her family still owns a flat there). At age 11
she moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she attended elementary and then high school. She then moved to Chicago
where she went to college and once she had gained her BFA she then moved to New York, N.Y. where she made several
theater performances and then to Los Angeles in about '91/'92. Upon gaining the role of Dana Scully, Gillian then relocated to
Nth Vancouver, Canada where she now resides with her husband and daughter.
4. What is her educational background?
Gillian attended Fountain Elementary and then City High in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After graduating in 1986 she moved to
Chicago and attended the Goodman Theater School at DePaul University (a major theater conservatory), in Chicago, IL where
she obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. While attending DePaul Univeristy, she also studied at the summer program at
the National Theater of Great Britain at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.
5. Vital Statistics?
Gillian is 5'2 ", smallish build, auburn hair, hazel eyes and a fair complexion(slightly freckled).
6. Is Gillian pregnant?
She was yes. (The last episode she appeared pregnant in was EP #06 of Season 2.) Gillian was due on the 09/13 and gave
birth on 09/25/94.
7. What was the baby named?
Gillian gave birth by Cesarean on the 09/25/94, to a baby girl, 8 lb. 10 oz, named Piper Anderson.
8. How did she get into acting? How did she get the role of Dana Scully?
After initially wanting to be a marine biologist, at about age 17, she was in "a couple of auditions" in the Grand Rapids
Community Theater, where she was "cast in a couple of things," and from then it was as if she "had never thought about marine
biology." While studying for her Bachelor of Fine Arts at DePaul University, Gillian spent some time in the National Theater of
Great Britain. During this time, she also had a role in a film named "The Turning" in 1988. After receiving her degree, she
moved to New York and embarked on a serious career in theater - including an off-broadway production of Alan
Ayckbourne's "Absent Friends," for which she won a Theater World award in 1991. She also appeared in "The Philanthropist"
at the Long Wharf Theater in New Haven, Connecticut. Gillian then moved to Los Angeles and spent a year auditioning for
various things, during which time she did "Home Fires Burning" for a cable station as well as the audiocassette version of "Exit
to Eden" by Anne Rice. Although she had once vowed she would "never do TV", and seemed set on a career in film or theater,
being out of work for a year or so changed her mind and she had a role in an episode of "Class of '96" and then was impressed
enough by the role of Dana Scully that she auditioned for the role.
"The chance to play FBI Special Agent Dana Scully was the series key attraction, I was reading something that
for the first time in a long time involved a strong, independent intelligent woman as a lead character"
The auditioning went well and it seems Chris Carter had decided on casting Gillian for the role. The network (FOX) "freaked"
at the possibility of casting someone with as little TV experience as Gillian and also appeared to be looking for someone more
"bimboish". So they flew in more actresses from New York, but Chris stood his ground and they cast Gillian as Special Agent
Dana Scully. Gillian, who was also somewhat surprised at being cast said, "I was convinced they were looking for someone
leggier, and with a bigger chest."
9. What is Gillian's view on the possibility of the phenomenon covered on the show?
A quote from GA can sum it up better than I could:
"The more I get comfortable with the character, the more she's becoming like me in some of her mannerisms. I'm
*not* that much of a skeptic. I do believe in UFO's, I do believe in certain paranormal phenomena, like ESP and
psychokinesis and all that. I've always been fascinated with it and I think, on a certain level, I've just known or
assumed it to be reality. In that respect we're very different. I think that I have a tendency to get as single-minded
and obsessed with my work as Dana does, but in a different way. She's a medical doctor and an FBI agent and
I'm an actress."
Also Gillian has said that when she was in Hawaii getting married she spent a lot of time watching the sky looking for "them",
and that she is "a full fledged believer" in addition to being "one of the least straight laced people you will ever meet." So yes, it's
safe to say Gillian's view on such phenomenon is that anything is possible.
10. What is Gillian Anderson like?
From all reports she is a very intelligent, hardworking, and charming woman with an easygoing and bubbly personality who genuinely enjoys her work even though she found the schedule of working in a weekly
show very stressful at first, though you wouldn't guess it from her consistently exemplary performances. She is also very open
and honest, as well as having a quirky and charming sense of humor. Glen Morgan has referred to her as "very smart" and
Chris Carter is also impressed by how hardworking she is. Gillian was at work each day up until two days before the birth of
Piper. She took 6 weeks off to recover and spend some time at home.
11. Does Gillian Anderson know that the GATB exists?
Yes, she does know the GATB exists, and this is what she said in an article, "The X-Philes," from Starlog Platinum #4,
November 1994. (Shamelessly stolen from Julianne Lee.)
Anderson is surprised, though she says it's flattering. "It's something I certainly didn't expect," she says, "especially
with Scully. She's independent and she's passionate about her work. The character is not just a little bit of those
attributes, she's very much so. I find it terrific that some people should find that stimulating."
and also from the Sacramento Bee,10/09/94 "Creepy, smart "X-Files" Inspires a cult following" by Steve Pond:
And while the actors aren't quite so computer literate, they are aware of the attention. "I've been told that on one
of the computer services there's something called the Gillian Anderson Testosterone Brigade," says Anderson with
a laugh. "That just tickles me."
12. What is Gillian's phone number/Email address, etc?
Her phone number is unknown, which is just as well I think. From all reports Gillian isn't on any computer service, but I asked
if she had an Email address in my letter. As far as a contact address
for fan mail, gifts and such:
Gillian Anderson
c/o The X-Files Production Office
Building 10
110-555 Brooks Bank Avenue,
North Vancouver, BC,
V7J 3S5, Canada.
13. What are Gillian's other performances?
"The Turning" (1988)
"Home Fires Burning" (1992)
"Exit to Eden" - audiocassette/Lisa Kelly (1992)
"Class of '96" Episode #8 - "The Accused" (1993)
"The X-Files" Dana Scully (1993 - present)
Danielle's X-Files Homepage does not take credit for this and any other interviews posted on this site.
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