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Gillian Anderson came from nowhere and made something of herself, purely by her own determination and drive. She had no highly-placed connections, she had no famous relatives. She got where she is today on her talents and strengths alone. She went to DePaul University, in Michigan, the furthest place from Hollywood. She moved to New York and tried to act there, and only had a few roles in off-Broadway plays. She was a virtual nobody when she won the role of Dana Scully on The X-Files. This gives me, and millions of other young would-be actresses, much hope. If a punk kid from Grand Rapids can do it, why shouldn't we?
Gillian is such an incredible actress. She won a Theatre World Award for one of her off-Broadway roles, and has won a variety of really important awards, like SAG and Golden Globes. And she deserves these awards, no question. On the X-Files, we see her play one of the most complex characters on television. Intelligent and intellectual, cooly scientific and rational, and yet hurt and questioning and groping for reassurance, the character of Scully has just as much shadowy depth to it as that of Mulder. Gillian is able to play defiantly rebellious, yet needing approval. She shows us strong-willed determination coupled with hopeless fatigue.
And yet, she is not locked into the role of Scully, as evidenced by her incredible performance in The Mighty, in which she plays a kind-hearted floozy. I was blown away by Gillian's brief appearance in The Mighty. She looked so different from Scully, I hardly recognized her. She acted so different, for a moment, I thought to myself "What is Scully saying?" But it was not Scully she was playing. Not at all. Gillian had managed to completely shed the Scully persona from her manner and demeanor, and played the part of Loretta with flair and eye-opening harshness. I loved her! She was such fun to watch!
Gillian is a single mom, which I find remarkable. Her devotion to her daughter Piper leaves her little free time, but she doesn't seem to mind. It is clear in interviews that she loves her daughter very much, and it is because of Piper that Gillian supported the move of X-Files from Vancouver B.C., to LA.
Another thing I really like about Gillian is how she doesn't ride down David Duchovny in public. We're always hearing from him about how he never spends time with her after the day is done, how the public doesn't understand their lack of a need for friendship, how after the X-Files is over, he never wants to see Gillian again. I understand what he's saying. They work long, hard, difficult, frustrating hours together, nearly every day of nearly every week of the year. They must be sick to death of each other. But hey, you don't hear Gillian saying it! C'mon, Dave, where's your tact? Show the woman a little courtesy! Without her, the show that made you famous would go down the toilet. She holds the other end of your rope right now, and you better pray that she doesn't choose to drop it. Because if she did, you would fall while she stands tall.
And she does stand tall....5'2" tall. Our lovely little Gillian - you gotta love her!
© 1997 uberscully@mailexcite.com
Gillian Leigh Anderson is this woman's name. I could give you her stats, her height, weight, birthplace, family history, etc. But that doesn't comprise who she is. Not that I really know who she is. Odds are, I will never meet Gillian Anderson. But if I could, I would tell her what an amazing actress she is, and what a role model she has become for me.
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