Gillian Leigh Anderson (born August 9, 1968) is an American actress.
After beginning her career in theatre, Anderson achieved international recognition for her role as Special Agent Dana Scully on the American television series The X-Files. During the show’s nine seasons, Anderson won an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild awards. Her film work includes The House of Mirth (2000), The Mighty Celt (2005), The Last King of Scotland (2006), and two X-Files films, The X-Files (1998) and The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008). She was nominated for BAFTA, Emmy and Golden Globe awards for her role as Lady Dedlock in the BBC television adaptation Bleak House (2005).
Chosen by “People” magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World. [1997]
Says her favorite film is Wallace & Gromit in The Wrong Trousers (1993). [1996]
Daughter Piper Anderson born between the filming of episodes 2.6 and 2.8 of “The X Files” (1993). [25 September 1994]
Was married to first husband Clyde Klotz on the 17th hole of a golf course in Hawaii by a Buddhist priest.
Hair is naturally blonde, it was dyed and styled into the famous bob by Malcolm Marsden, who was immortalised as the British MP in the episode “Fire”.
Daughter of Edward Anderson, who owned a film post-production company, and Rosemary Anderson (née Lane), a computer analyst, she has a younger brother, Aaron, and a younger sister, Zoe Anderson.
Younger brother suffers from neurofibromatosis and she has done work to encourage government to increase funding for reasearch.
Has size seven feet.
Was voted “Most Likely to be Arrested” by her classmates in high school, and was, in fact, arrested on graduation night for trying to glue the locks shut at her high school.
In high school, was voted “Class Clown” and “Most Bizarre Girl”.
Lived in London, England, from age 2 to age 11, then moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she was teased for her English accent.
Went to the Goodman Theater School of Drama at DePaul University in Chicago, where she earned a degree in fine arts. One of her classmates was Nina Siemaszko.
Gained her first real break when she replaced Mary-Louise Parker in the play “The Philanthropist.”
Told “The X Files” (1993) executives that she was 27 so that she would appear more credible as an FBI agent with a medical degree.
“The X Files” (1993) writer, Chris Carter, is the godfather of her daughter, Piper Maru.
Kept her daughter, Piper, completely hidden from the public until they both appeared in Joan Ostin’s book, “Celebrity Moms” and the April 2001 issue of “In Style Magazine”.
Graduated from City High School, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Piper Maru, her daughter, was the inspiration for the title of an “The X Files” (1993) episode introducing the famous black oil in the series.
Engaged to photojournalist Julian Ozanne. Wedding was planned for September 2003 during a safari ceremony in Kenya, but was delayed for over a year.
Standing at just 5′ 3″, she has to stand on an apple box to shoot many scenes in “The X Files” (1993).
Measurements: 34C-25-35 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
[December 29 2004] Married her long-term boyfriend Julian Ozanne on Lamu’s Shella Island, off the coast of Kenya.
As a teen, her favorite bands included Skinny Puppy and Dead Kennedys.
In 2003, she won the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Best Actress Award for her West End debut in Michael Weller’s two-hander, What the Night Is For.
Presented the best designer award at the 51st Evening Standard Theatre Awards (2005).
Is an avid art collector. Her collection includes work from such artists as Diane Arbus, Francesco Clemente and Kiki Smith.
Spent her first paycheck from “The X Files” (1993) on art.
Friends with New Orleans musician/inventor Quintron.
Return to work on “The X Files” (1993) 10 days after she gave birth to Piper Maru.
Parents left US for London when she was 2. The family moved back to the US when she was 11. She relocated to London again, as an adult, in 2002. As of May 2006, she still lives there with her daughter.
Of the 5 actresses nominated for an Emmy as “Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie” in 2006, she was the only one who hasn’t been nominated for an Oscar
At age 38, she gave birth to her second child. Son, Oscar was born in London on November 1, 2006 weighing in at 6 lbs, 8 oz. Oscar was born 3 weeks early and had some health issues, requiring a stay in the NICU. Dad is Gillian’s partner Mark Griffiths.
Chosen by Australian men magazine Zoo weekly as one of the “Top 50 Hottest Babes Ever”. [March 2006]
Youngest actress – at the age of 29 years old in 1997 – to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Primetime Drama Series Emmy Award since Lindsay Wagner won at the age of 28 in 1977.
Was the first woman to host Masterpiece which began in 1971.
Ranked #23 on Wizard magazine’s Sexiest Women of TV list (March 2008).
Third child, a boy named Felix Griffiths born October 15th 2008. Father is Mark Griffiths.
Partner of Mark Griffiths [2006 - present] 2 sons.
Third child, son Felix Griffiths, was born on October 15, 2008. He weighed 6 lbs. 15 oz.
In 1996, Anderson was voted the “Sexiest Woman in the World” by FHM’s “100 Sexiest Women” poll.
In 1996 she received an offer to appear on the cover and pose nude for Playboy Magazine. According to an interview to FHM magazine, she was offered an impressive amount of money to take off her clothes, but Gillian refused it “I turned it down. But it was very flattering” she said.
