Gillian Anderson

Born in Chicago in 1968, Gillian Anderson began her performing career in Alan Ayckbourn’s Absent Friends in 1991 after moving to New York at 22 years old. Ever since, she has enjoyed a glittering career across film, television series and the theatre in the United States and the United Kingdom.

During the 1990’s, Anderson made a guest appearance on Class of 96, which led to an audition for The X Files. She was successful in this audition and landed the role of FBI agent Dana Scully. She starred in 218 episodes of the hit TV show, writing and directing an episode called “all things”. Her The X Files success saw her win an Emmy, a Golden Globe, two Screen Actors Guild awards and a Saturn Award, winning outstanding actress awards at all the awards ceremonies.

Towards the end of the millennium and into 2000, she was cast in The Vagina Monologues performing in Los Angeles and London. She then made her West End debut in What The Night Is For at the Harold Pinter Theatre, later appearing in The Sweetest Swing in Baseball. In 2009, she starred in A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen at the Donmar Warehouse, receiving an Olivier nomination for her portrayal of Nora.

In 2011, she played Miss Havisham in an adaptation of Great Expectations later earning nominations for Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries at the Critics’ Choice Television Awards.

Recently, her portrayal of Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire at the Young Vic in 2014 was recognised with a nomination for Best Actress at the 2015 Olivier Awards, later reprising this role in 2016 in New York. She has also taken part in two Letters Live at the Freemason’s Hall and as Margo Channing in All About Eve at the Noel Coward Theatre opposite Lily James.

Outside of performing, Anderson works with many women’s organisations and runs humanitarian ventures. She also campaigns with Greenpeace.