Gillian Anderson

Gillian Anderson Berlinale 2017

Gillian Anderson
Born	Gillian Leigh Anderson Birth date -1st March 1966 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Nationality	American, British
Occupation	Actress, writer, producer
Years active	1983–present
Children	3

Gillian Leigh Anderson (born August 9, 1968) is an American-British actress, writer, and producer. She is best known for her role as Dana Scully in the television series The X-Files and as Margaret Thatcher in the fourth season of The Crown.

Early life

Gillian Anderson was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Rosemary Alyce (née Lane), a computer analyst, and Homer Edward Anderson III, who owned a film post-production company. She has a younger brother, Aaron, and a younger sister, Zoe. Anderson's family relocated to London shortly after her birth, where she spent her early childhood. They returned to the United States when she was 11 years old, settling in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Career

Early career

Anderson began her career in theater, performing in various productions in New York City. She gained recognition for her role in the play Absent Friends, for which she won a Theatre World Award in 1991.

The X-Files

In 1993, Anderson was cast as FBI Special Agent Dana Scully in the science fiction television series The X-Files. The show became a cult hit and ran for eleven seasons, earning Anderson critical acclaim and several awards, including a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award.

Post-X-Files career

After The X-Files, Anderson continued to work in both film and television. She appeared in movies such as The House of Mirth (2000) and The Last King of Scotland (2006). She also starred in the British television series Bleak House and The Fall.

The Crown

In 2020, Anderson portrayed Margaret Thatcher in the fourth season of the Netflix series The Crown. Her performance was widely praised, earning her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

Personal life

Anderson has been married twice and has three children. She is known for her activism and support of various charities, including those focused on neurofibromatosis and climate change.

Filmography

Film

• The House of Mirth (2000)
• The Last King of Scotland (2006)
• Johnny English Reborn (2011)
• Viceroy's House (2017)

Television

• The X-Files (1993–2002, 2016, 2018)
• Bleak House (2005)
• The Fall (2013–2016)
• The Crown (2020)

Awards and nominations

Anderson has received numerous awards and nominations throughout her career, including:

• Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for The X-Files
• Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama for The X-Files
• Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for The Crown

See also

• List of American actresses
• List of British actresses
• List of Primetime Emmy Award winners