While many might know Gillian Anderson for her performance as FBI Special Agent Dana Scully on the popular sci-fi drama “The X-Files”, she has lately been redefining her stardom by taking on a very different role as Margaret Thatcher in the Netflix’s “The Crown,” for which she won a 2021 Golden Globe.
Born in Chicago in 1968, she spent most of her childhood in London before moving back to the United States at the age of 11. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The Theatre School at DePaul University in 1990 and attended the National Theatre of Great Britain's summer program at Cornell University.
She began her career on stage in New-York before moving to Los Angeles where she spent a year auditioning until she landed her first role in the movie "The Turning." She then broke into mainstream TV in 1993 with a guest appearance on "Class of '96.” The same year, she was sent the script for "The X-Files.”
The series aired 202 episodes over nine seasons from 1993 to 2002 and launched her career into A-List status. She won numerous awards, including Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild awards. She also made history by becoming the first woman to write and direct an episode of the series.
After its ending, she decided to move back to London and later explained: "Part of that decision [to move] was also that I had a complicated relationship with becoming so famous so young and seeing the worst part of what the industry can be. I really hated it and wanted to get away."
Over the years she pursued her career with theatre work, and in acclaimed roles in series like “Hannibal,” and movies such as “The Last King of Scotland.” She usually considers roles that are creatively exciting and challenging enough to justify being away from her family.
And not does she provide showstopping performances in strong female lead roles, but she is also known for her charity work and activism. She uses her social media accounts to speak out for charities and activist causes, and as a fierce advocate for women, co-wrote “We: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere,” a self-help book aiming to create meaningful change in women's lives. Whether it is in the United States, in the United Kingdom, or worldwide, she has undoubtedly left her mark in entertainment and beyond.