Gillian Anderson Quotes

Gillian Leigh Anderson, is an American-British film, television and theatre actress, activist and writer. Her credits include the roles of FBI Special Agent Dana Scully in the long-running and widely popular series The X-Files, ill-fated socialite Lily Bart in Terence Davies' film The House of Mirth , and DSI Stella Gibson on the BBC crime drama television series The Fall. Among other honours, Anderson has won a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. She has lived in London since 2002, after earlier years divided between this city and places in the United States.

After beginning her career on stage, Anderson achieved international recognition for her role as FBI Special Agent Dana Scully on the American sci-fi drama series The X-Files. Her film work includes the dramas The Mighty Celt , The Last King of Scotland , Shadow Dancer , Viceroy's House and two X-Files films: The X-Files: Fight the Future and The X-Files: I Want to Believe . Other notable television credits include: Lady Dedlock in Bleak House , Wallis Simpson in Any Human Heart , Miss Havisham in Great Expectations , Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier on Hannibal , and Media on American Gods .

Aside from film and television, Anderson has taken on the stage and received both awards and critical acclaim. Her stage work includes Absent Friends – for which she won a Theatre World Award for Best Newcomer, A Doll's House – that earned her a Laurence Olivier Award nomination, and a portrayal of Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire – for which she won the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actress and received her second Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress. Anderson is the co-writer of The EarthEnd Saga novel trilogy and the self-help guide book WE: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere.

Anderson has been active in supporting numerous charities and humanitarian organizations. She is an honorary spokesperson for the Neurofibromatosis Network and a co-founder of South African Youth Education for Sustainability . Anderson was appointed an honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2016 for her services to drama.

✵ 9. August 1968
Gillian Anderson photo
Gillian Anderson: 49   quotes 1   like

Famous Gillian Anderson Quotes

“Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears.”

Excerpt from the foreword in Girl Boss: Running the Show Like the Big Chicks http://www.gilliananderson.ws/transcripts/99_00/99girlboss.shtml, by Stacy Kravetz (1999)
1990s

“I am an actively heterosexual woman who celebrates however people want to express their sexuality.”

On having liberal approach about sex — Evening Standard "Gillian Anderson: Self destruction is my default mode" http://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/gillian-anderson-self-destruction-is-my-default-mode-9897489.html/ (December 2, 2014)
2010s

“Young women have more choices to make today about what to be. One of those choices is activist.”

Global Goals United Nations https://twitter.com/GlobalGoalsUN/status/712709697468571648 (March 23, 2016)
2010s

“Get out of the house. Find other human beings to communicate with. Read a book. Do yoga. Meditate. Be of service. That is one of the biggest single most things to get one out of oneself, is being of service to people who are less fortunate than ourselves.”

When asked for a motivational advice — Reddit "The Reigning Queen of TV" here. Also known as "mom." Gillian Anderson here, AMA." https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/20cavl/the_reigning_queen_of_tv_here_also_known_as_mom/#cg1tob1 (March 13, 2014)
2010s

“Peace of mind, right mind, right action.”

When asked about the meaning of her tattoos — Newsweek "'X-Files' Behind Her, Gillian Anderson Is a Believer" http://www.newsweek.com/2015/02/27/x-files-behind-her-gillian-anderson-believer-306820.html (May 14, 2015)
2010s

Gillian Anderson Quotes about people

“In England, I get offered films. I don't get offers in America. People don't know what to do with me in America. And I've disappeared.”

Associated Press (January 20, 2006) "American tragedy", Chicago Tribune RedEye Edition, Chicago Tribune, p. 52.
2000s

“I have feminist bones and when I hear things or see people react to women in certain ways I have very little tolerance.”

Celia Walden Glamour "I have a healthy appreciation of Ryan Gosling" http://www.gilliananderson.ws/transcripts/10_15/14glamour.shtml (August, 2014)
2010s

“I try, in my life, to follow my heart. I know what it feels like to do things that are soul-decaying. A large aspect of life in Hollywood, in a stereotypic way, I find unbelievably soul-decaying. And I choose, albeit frustratingly to other people in my life, not to expose myself too much to too much of that.”

Hal Boedeker (January 21, 2006) "Agent of Change - Gillian Anderson , who found fulfilling work in England after `The X-Files,' returns to TV in a PBS miniseries", The Orlando Sentinel, p. E1.
2000s

Gillian Anderson Quotes about feelings

“I sometimes don't enjoy it at all, and sometimes it feels like… breath.”

About acting — Larry King Now "Gillian Anderson on ‘The X-Files’ Reboot, All-White Oscar Noms, & (Not) Kissing Jamie Dornan" http://www.ora.tv/larrykingnow/2016/1/15/gillian-anderson-0_3871uef971i7 (January 15, 2016)
2010s

“I always felt I wasn't completely American and I wasn't completely British: there was a feeling of having my feet in both places.”

Tony Barrell (September 18, 2005) "Agent Scullery - Interview", The Sunday Times, p. Sunday Times Magazine 46.
2000s

“London is my favourite city in the world. Flying in last night, I felt I was really coming home, and that's unique. It's the only place I actually miss when I'm not here. London appeals to many aspects of me - it just feels like where I belong.”

Clarke Hayes The Spectator Blog "Switching off the spotlight" http://www.gilliananderson.ws/transcripts/10_15/11Spectator.shtml (October 14, 2011)
2010s

Gillian Anderson Quotes

“I truly believe that we can overcome any hurdle that lies before us and create the life we want to live. I have seen it happen time and time again.”

Excerpt from the foreword in Girl Boss: Running the Show Like the Big Chicks, by Stacy Kravetz (1999)
1990s
Context: Another miraculous result of playing Scully has been all the incredible young women I have been blessed to meet along the way--women who have shared that they have received strength from Scully, that because of Scully's strength they have been afraid but done it anyway. These have been women from all walks of life: women from low-income neighborhoods who have persevered despite all odds to study hard and pursue their dreams, enabling them to enter into better schools and work environments; women who have illness and physical challenges who have gotten better and stronger because they believe they can. I truly believe that we can overcome any hurdle that lies before us and create the life we want to live. I have seen it happen time and time again.

“Dear Gillian,

You are completely and utterly self obsessed. If you spent a quarter of your time thinking about others instead of how much you hate your thighs, your level of contentment and self worth would expand exponentially. One thing I learned way too late in the game for my own good was that you can effectively increase your self esteem by doing estimable things.”

Therefore I have signed you up to build homes for the homeless during your entire summer vacation. Your Christmas will be spent serving food at a battered women’s shelter and Easter is designated to reading stories to children in the pediatric cancer ward. Four months out of 16years dedicated to human beings other than yourself, you have gotten off easy. Oh and honey expand your horizons; your world is a bigger oyster than your low self-esteem wants you to believe. Love yourself; think of others and be grateful. I love you, I believe in you, and I look forward to respecting you.

Me. You. Us

P.S. Follow your dreams, not your boyfriends.
Anderson's letter to her teenage self — from Dear Me: More Letters To My Sixteen-Year-Old Self http://www.dearme.org/excerpt/GA/?iframe=true&width=750&height=100%/, edited by Joseph Galliano. (June 19, 2011)
2010s

“We were in a small Republican town. There were only six punks there. We were weird. It's not like London.”

On her teenage punk years in Grand Rapids — The Guardian "Gillian Anderson on therapy, rebellion and 'being weird'" http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/feb/08/gillian-anderson-on-therapy-rebellion-and-being-weird/ (February 8, 2015)
2010s

“I would masturbate in a red speedo.”

When asked what would she do if she and David Duchovny switched bodies for a week — Reddit "Gillian Anderson here. I've brought David Duchovny with me. Ask us anything, we'll answer almost everything." https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1oad13/gillian_anderson_here_ive_brought_david_duchovny/#ccq7k5a (October 12, 2013)
2010s

“I'm damaged in many ways. And yet a lot of what my fight is about is pushing through that to live a meaningful, sane existence and make a difference and play to my strengths.”

WSJ "Gillian Anderson: Reviving Blanche DuBois in Brooklyn" http://www.wsj.com/articles/gillian-anderson-reviving-blanche-dubois-in-brooklyn-1461975005 (April 29, 2016)
2010s

“I also respond very strongly to characters I have not done before… something I can really sink my teeth into, and what's scary, and what terrifies me, because that's where I need to go.”

Toady "Nothing 'Bleak' about PBS for Gillian Anderson" http://www.today.com/id/10912748/ns/today-today_entertainment/t/nothing-bleak-about-pbs-gillian-anderson/#.VpKEALZ96Uk (January 18, 2006)
2000s

“I don't necessarily consider myself to be an icon, but I do consider myself to be a feminist.”

When asked if she considered herself to be a feminist icon – given the many strong female characters she portrayed — "Dallas Comic Con - May 2015 - The X Files - Gillian Anderson" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlIctMT6JpU/ (May 31, 2015)
2010s

“By moving to London I removed myself from the madness of the entertainment industry. I love the city and the culture, and it was an opportunity to bring my children up in a more sane environment.”

John Hiscock (July 25, 2008) "Mulder and Scully: the truth is here Anderson on Duchovny David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, stars of the new 'X-Files' movie, talk to Will Lawrence and John Hiscock about their on-screen chemistry", The Daily Telegraph.
2000s

“You know, the last time I was on [the show], we were talking about colonics and this is a little step up.”

To Letterman, after they lengthily kissed during the Late Night with David Letterman — "Gillian Anderson Kisses Letterman" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPLlDZ2uJXY (May 10, 2002)
2000s

“You look just like that Mulder on X Factor.”

When asked what the best thing a London cabbie said to her — Evening Standard "Gillian Anderson's My London" http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/esmagazine/gillian-andersons-my-london-8824882.html (September 20, 2013)
2010s

“When I finished the series, I wasn't going to do television again. I never wanted to do television to begin with, and I was so exhausted by the process that I was wary of being in front of the camera again.”

On finishing her work in the series The X-Files — reported in Steve Hedgpeth (January 22, 2006) "Gillian Anderson : TV or not TV", The Star-Ledger, p. 3.
2000s

“I will not tolerate not being heard as a result of excess testosterone.”

Details "Details Magazine Interview" http://www.gilliananderson.ws/transcripts/98/98details.shtml (June 1998)
1990s

“Having been Scully for such a long time, I have to prove myself in other roles.”

Ric House (July 6, 2001) "New 'X-Files' season will be Anderson's last", The Spokesman-Review, p. D2.
2000s

“To me a relationship is about loving another human being; their gender is irrelevant.”

The Telegraph "Gillian Anderson: It's time somebody was brave enough to ask me out" http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11489711/Gillian-Anderson-Its-time-somebody-was-brave-enough-to-ask-me-out.html (March 24, 2015)
2010s

“I would never point a finger at anyone and say, 'They lived their life badly.' I take it as it comes and deal with each situation as it arrives.”

Garth Pearce (April 29, 2007) "The plot to slow me down - Interview", The Sunday Times, p. InGear 3.
2000s

“I don't think I'd be very good at what you'd call an ordinary job. I think I might be an artist, mixed media. And that is still something I'm interested in pursuing at some point, but I have this fear of taking my eye off the ball, and get distracted from that acting thing.”

The Guardian "Gillian Anderson webchat – as it happened" http://www.theguardian.com/stage/live/2015/feb/06/gillian-anderson-webchat-young-vic-the-departure/ (February 6, 2015)
2010s

“There is this view that if you are not tormented you cannot be vital and creative. I would like to think that is not true.”

Jasper Gerard (July 1, 2001) "Scully knows what it's like to be an alien - Interview", The Sunday Times, p. News Review 5.
2000s

“Directing was a transformative experience for me, one that I really enjoyed.”

Wales on Sunday staff (December 2, 2001) "Wales on Sunday: stargazing", Wales on Sunday.
2000s

“We got a lot of letters all the time, and I was told quite frequently by girls who were going into the medical world or the science world or the FBI world or other worlds that I reigned, that they were pursuing those pursuits because of the character of Scully. And I said, 'Yay!”

Anderson tells that she has long been aware of "The Scully Effect" and the influence her character had on young women — reported in Jennifer Vineyard Vulture.com "Nearly Everything The X-Files’ David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson Said This Weekend" http://www.vulture.com/2013/10/david-duchovny-gillian-anderson-nycc-paley-center-quotes.html (October 14, 2013)
2010s

Similar authors

Angelina Jolie photo
Angelina Jolie 36
American actress, film director, and screenwriter
Monica Bellucci photo
Monica Bellucci 1
Italian actress
Selena Gomez photo
Selena Gomez 8
American singer and actress
Will Smith photo
Will Smith 8
American actor, film producer and rapper
Leonardo DiCaprio photo
Leonardo DiCaprio 69
American actor and film producer
Demi Lovato photo
Demi Lovato 19
American singer, songwriter, actress, and author
Miley Cyrus photo
Miley Cyrus 45
American actor and singer-songwriter
Shahrukh Khan photo
Shahrukh Khan 75
Indian actor, producer and television personality
Johnny Depp photo
Johnny Depp 76
American actor, film producer, and musician
Jimmy Carr photo
Jimmy Carr 20
British comedian and humourist