Issue Date: July 20, 2008
Gillian Anderson interview
A new "X-Files" movie: Welcome back, Scully!
By Jeanne Dorin McDowell
It's 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and Gillian Anderson can't believe that her 18-month-old has been napping for three hours. Babies are a major theme in Anderson's life these days. At 39, the actress is expecting her third child (she also has a daughter, Piper, 13), and she's guessing that, at about four months pregnant, she'll be slightly wider when she walks the red carpet next Friday for the premiere of "The X-Files: I Want to Believe." It's the much-anticipated follow-up to the '90s sci-fi TV series that turned Anderson -- and her small-screen alter ego, FBI Special Agent Dana Scully, along with David Duchovny as her partner, Special Agent Fox Mulder -- into a household name.
In the six years since the series wrapped, Anderson has been living a decidedly un-Hollywood life in London with her partner, businessman Mark Griffiths. While their baby sleeps, Anderson opens up about her onscreen persona, pregnancy at almost 40 and Duchovny's bod.
How are you feeling?
Great. I'm past that terrible first three months. They were debilitating. I don't recall feeling that bad with my other two children. It makes you wonder why you subject yourself to that over and over again.
You were 24 when "The X-Files" started, and now you and Scully are almost 15 years older. How have you both changed?
I think she's a bit more mature, not only in the age sense. I may be completely delusional, but I feel just as goofy as I did back then.
So who has aged better, you or David?
David's in even better shape than he was when he was doing the series. In the film, he has a scene where his shirt is off. I'm sure fans will be happy with that.
What's it like gearing up for motherhood again at almost 40?
I started quite young, and my 13-year-old and I have a close, intense relationship. But there's something about having a bit more life experience behind me this time.
You've been married twice before. Any interest in marriage again?
I don't feel it would improve anything. So why fix something that's not broken?
You checked out of Hollywood and moved to England, where you lived as a child. Why?
I made a decision to move to a city that had less to do with the world of celebrity and Hollywood and more to do with the rest of the world.
Scully was so serious. What's one thing about yourself that would surprise people?
I laugh a lot. I can be silly and funny and goofy.
The movie's plot has been kept hush-hush, to say the least. Please tell our 50 million readers one thing that they won't hear anywhere else about the movie.
Mulder and Scully are not brother and sister. That's all I can say.
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Online Bonus with Gillian Anderson
Q. Why did you want to reprise the role of Dana Scully?
When the series was over, I was pretty adamant about saying goodbye and closing that chapter. But it was always a given that we would come back together some day, and the time was right.
Q. How have you and Scully both changed since we first met you?
I think she's a bit more mature, not only in the age sense. I may be completely delusional, but I feel just as goofy as I did back then.
Q. At 3, your brother was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis, a rare genetic disorder of the nervous system that causes tumors to grow. What impact has that had on your life?
My brother's diagnosis had a tremendous impact on our whole family. My mom started support groups and has been very intensely involved in the Neurofibromatosis Association and research. My celebrity enables [me] to say things that people might not listen to otherwise.
Q. Who are your heroes?
Right now I'm absolutely in awe of Barack Obama.
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"The X-Files" for dummies
The buzz and the back story behind the cult hit
The TV show: Named the second-greatest cult show of all time by TV Guide in 2007.
The story: True believer FBI agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) is paired with skeptic counterpart Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) to investigate unsolved paranormal cases. During nine seasons on Fox (and one movie), they faced many monsters, a government coverup and the makings of an impending alien invasion.
What's up between Mulder and Scully: A lot of professionalism with a healthy dose of sexual tension, one New Year's kiss that made many fans swoon and (maybe) a son.
The buzz on the movie: Is the truth really out there, as Mulder always claims? If so, it's top secret. Rumors involving everything from werewolves to the return of Mitch Pileggi's character, Skinner, have swirled around the Internet, but series creator Chris Carter has only spilled that the plot is reminiscent of the show's dark beginnings.
-- Brian Truitt
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