---
name: "Gillian Anderson"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/gillian-anderson"
fi1m_id: "gillian-anderson"
imdb_id: "nm0000096"
tmdb_id: 12214
wikidata_id: "Q485298"
roles: ["Actor","Director"]
born: "9 August 1968"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 15
average_fi1m_score: 71
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 14
updated: "2026-10-23T21:09:00.921801+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Gillian Anderson

## Identity

Gillian Anderson

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/gillian-anderson
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** gillian-anderson
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000096
- **TMDB ID:** 12214
- **Wikidata ID:** Q485298
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gillian_Anderson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q485298, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000096/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/12214

Actor and director. Born 9 August 1968 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor, Director
- **Born:** 9 August 1968, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- **Active:** 1989–present
- **Also known as:** Gillian Leigh Anderson
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 15: 14 acting, 1 directing
- **Frequently works with:** [Andrew Davies](https://film.one/person/andrew-davies.md), [Chris Brancato](https://film.one/person/chris-brancato.md), [Chris Carter](https://film.one/person/chris-carter.md), [Daniel Sackheim](https://film.one/person/daniel-sackheim.md), [David Duchovny](https://film.one/person/david-duchovny.md), [Jeff Vlaming](https://film.one/person/jeff-vlaming.md), [Kerry Washington](https://film.one/person/kerry-washington.md), [Rob Bowman](https://film.one/person/rob-bowman.md)
- **Golden Globes:** 1 Golden Globe (1 won · 3 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 71, as actor, over 14 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 88 (1), 1990s 74 (2), 2000s 65 (1), 2010s 71 (8), 2020s 70 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 71 to 69 across 9 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 8 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 6 of 13 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 9, Comedy 4, Crime 3, Action 2, Science Fiction 2, Adventure 1
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $499m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gillian_Anderson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q485298, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000096/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/12214

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*The Simpsons*](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md) (88), [*The X-Files*](https://film.one/tv/the-x-files.md) (84), [*TRON: Ares*](https://film.one/film/tron-ares.md) (50)
- **Netflix:** [*Hannibal*](https://film.one/tv/hannibal-2013.md) (81), [*Sex Education*](https://film.one/tv/sex-education.md) (78)
- **AMC+:** [*The Fall*](https://film.one/tv/the-fall-2013.md) (73), [*The Crimson Petal and the White*](https://film.one/tv/the-crimson-petal-and-the-white.md) (68)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Any Human Heart*](https://film.one/tv/any-human-heart.md) (73)
- **Peacock:** [*War and Peace*](https://film.one/tv/war-and-peace.md) (65)
- **BritBox:** [*Bleak House*](https://film.one/tv/bleak-house.md) (65)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The X-Files*](https://film.one/film/the-x-files-1998.md) (64)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Gillian Anderson

> Gillian Anderson makes thought and disappointment readable with little outward fuss. We value her restraint, especially when she has room to let an unhappy woman become more than a problem for someone else, as she does in *Trespasses*.

In Joachim Rønning's *TRON: Ares* (2025), Gillian Anderson gets two scenes as Elisabeth Dillinger and makes cold disappointment worth watching. There is pleasure in seeing a small part played so precisely, even in a film we cannot recommend. The limitation is how little she is asked to do: her contribution works, but it cannot make the talk about what machines want any more interesting. We prefer her in parts that let us see more than the familiar authority.

Her breakthrough was Dana Scully, an FBI agent and scientist, in *The X-Files* (1993). A role that defining can narrow what casting directors imagine, and the subsequent work is worth considering with that in mind. Lily Bart in *The House of Mirth* (2000) took her into literary adaptation; Stella Gibson in *The Fall* (2013) gave her another self-possessed professional woman. Jean Milburn, the sex therapist in *Sex Education* (2019), gave her a place in comedy-drama too.

*Trespasses* (2025) is the stronger reason to seek her out. As Gina Lavery, Cushla's mother, she gives the family troubles an importance that does not depend on the central affair. We were upset by Gina's drinking because Anderson makes the family's unhappiness feel so hard to escape. She does not let the alcoholism explain everything about Gina, and that keeps the woman from becoming merely a problem for her daughter. Shadforth and Keogan give these lives enough attention for Anderson's scenes to remain compelling even when the romance is unpersuasive.

Authority alone is plainly not what makes her worth watching. Gina matters because Anderson gives us reasons to care about her without asking us to forget how hard she is to live with. Choose *Trespasses* for Anderson and Lola Petticrew, with patience for a less convincing romance.

## Biography

Gillian Anderson is an American actress. She was born in Chicago in 1968 and raised partly in London and Grand Rapids, Michigan. She began her career on stage in New York before gaining international recognition for her role as FBI Special Agent Dana Scully in the series *The X-Files* (1993–2002; 2016–2018).

She has appeared in films including *The House of Mirth* (2000), *The Last King of Scotland* (2006), *Shadow Dancer* (2012) and *The Crown* (2016) as Margaret Thatcher. Her television work includes Jean Milburn in *Sex Education* (2019–2023), Dr Bedelia Du Maurier in *Hannibal* (2013–2015) and Stella Gibson in *The Fall* (2013–2016). Anderson received an OBE in 2016. In 2025 she played Elisabeth Dillinger in the film *TRON: Ares* and Gina Lavery in the series *Trespasses*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, tron.fandom.com.*

## On Fi1m (15)

### Performed in (14) — the average rests on these

- *Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma* (2026), Fi1m 80, as Billy — [page](https://film.one/film/teenage-sex-and-death-at-camp-miasma.md)
- *TRON: Ares* (2025), Fi1m 50, as Elisabeth Dillinger — [page](https://film.one/film/tron-ares.md)
- *Trespasses* (2025), Fi1m 80, as Gina Lavery — [page](https://film.one/tv/trespasses.md)
- *Sex Education* (2019), Fi1m 78, as Jean Milburn — [page](https://film.one/tv/sex-education.md)
- *The Crown* (2016), Fi1m 78, as Margaret Thatcher — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-crown.md)
- *War and Peace* (2016), Fi1m 65, as Anna Pavlovna Scherer — [page](https://film.one/tv/war-and-peace.md)
- *Hannibal* (2013), Fi1m 81, as Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier — [page](https://film.one/tv/hannibal-2013.md)
- *The Fall* (2013), Fi1m 73, as Stella Gibson — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-fall-2013.md)
- *Johnny English Reborn* (2011), Fi1m 53, as Pamela — [page](https://film.one/film/johnny-english-reborn.md)
- *The Crimson Petal and the White* (2011), Fi1m 68, as Mrs. Castaway — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-crimson-petal-and-the-white.md)
- *Any Human Heart* (2010), Fi1m 73, as Duchess Of Windsor — [page](https://film.one/tv/any-human-heart.md)
- *Bleak House* (2005), Fi1m 65, as Lady Dedlock — [page](https://film.one/tv/bleak-house.md)
- *The X-Files* (1998), Fi1m 64, as Dana Scully — [page](https://film.one/film/the-x-files-1998.md)
- *The Simpsons* (1989), Fi1m 88, as Dana Scully (voice) — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)

### Directed (1)

- *The X-Files* (1993), Fi1m 84, as Dana Scully — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-x-files.md)

## Complete filmography (75)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Animals* (2026), Actor — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/film/animals.md)
- *The Julia Set* (2026), as Producer
- *The X-Files: I Want to Believe – Vrach Frankenshteyn* (2026), as Dana Scully
- *Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma* (2026), as Billy — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/teenage-sex-and-death-at-camp-miasma.md)
- *Sara Price: Chasing Dakar* (2026), series, as Narrator
- *The Abandons* (2025), series, as Constance Van Ness
- *Trespasses* (2025), series, as Gina Lavery · Executive Producer — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/trespasses.md)
- *TRON: Ares* (2025), as Elisabeth Dillinger — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/tron-ares.md)
- *Tron: Ares - A Special Look* (2025), as Elisabeth Dillinger
- *The Salt Path* (2025), as Raynor Winn
- *Woolf Works* (2024), Actor
- *Scoop* (2024), as Emily Maitlis
- *White Bird* (2023), as Vivienne Beaumier
- *The Pale Blue Eye* (2022), as Julia Marquis
- *The First Lady* (2022), series, as Eleanor Roosevelt
- *Robin Robin* (2021), as Cat (voice)
- *The Sunlit Night* (2020), as Olyana
- *National Theatre Live: All About Eve* (2019), as Margo Channing
- *Sex Education* (2019), series, as Jean Milburn — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/sex-education.md)
- *UFO* (2018), as Dr. Hendricks
- *The Spy Who Dumped Me* (2018), as Wendy
- *Crooked House* (2017), as Magda Leonides
- *American Gods* (2017), series, as Media
- *The Artist’s Garden: American Impressionism* (2017), as Narrator
- *Viceroy's House* (2017), as Edwina Mountbatten
- *Woolf Works* (2017), as Voiceover from a letter by Virginia Woolf (voice)
- *The Crown* (2016), series, as Margaret Thatcher — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-crown.md)
- *Sold* (2016), as Sophia
- *War and Peace* (2016), series, as Anna Pavlovna Scherer — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/war-and-peace.md)
- *The Widowmaker* (2015), as Narrator
- *Robot Overlords* (2015), as Kate
- *The Departure* (2014), as Blanche DuBois · Director
- *National Theatre Live: A Streetcar Named Desire* (2014), as Blanche DuBois
- *Crisis* (2014), series, as Meg Fitch
- *Mr. Morgan's Last Love* (2013), as Karen Morgan
- *I'll Follow You Down* (2013), as Marika Whyte
- *The Fall* (2013), series, as Stella Gibson — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-fall-2013.md)
- *Hannibal* (2013), series, as Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/hannibal-2013.md)
- *Room on the Broom* (2012), as Witch (voice)
- *Sister* (2012), as Kristin Jansen
- *Shadow Dancer* (2012), as Kate Fletcher
- *Great Expectations* (2011), series, as Miss Havisham
- *Johnny English Reborn* (2011), as Pamela — Fi1m 53, [page](https://film.one/film/johnny-english-reborn.md)
- *Moby Dick* (2011), series, as Elizabeth
- *The Crimson Petal and the White* (2011), series, as Mrs. Castaway — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-crimson-petal-and-the-white.md)
- *Any Human Heart* (2010), series, as Duchess Of Windsor — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/any-human-heart.md)
- *Boogie Woogie* (2010), as Jean Maclestone
- *How to Lose Friends & Alienate People* (2008), as Eleanor Johnson
- *The X-Files: I Want to Believe* (2008), as Dana Scully
- *Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind* (2007), as Queen Vorkana (voice)
- *Straightheads* (2007), as Alice
- *The Last King of Scotland* (2006), as Sarah Merrit
- *Bleak House* (2005), series, as Lady Dedlock — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/bleak-house.md)
- *A Cock and Bull Story* (2005), as Widow Wadman / Gillian Anderson
- *The Mighty Celt* (2005), as Kate
- *The House of Mirth* (2000), as Lily Bart
- *Harsh Realm* (1999), series, as Video Narrator (uncredited)
- *Playing by Heart* (1998), as Meredith
- *Chicago Cab* (1998), as Southside Girl
- *The X-Files* (1998), as Dana Scully — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/the-x-files-1998.md)
- *The Mighty* (1998), as Loretta Lee
- *Akte X Intern - Was Sie schon immer wissen wollten* (1998), as Dana Scully / Self
- *Spies Above* (1996), as narrator
- *Why Planes Go Down* (1996), as Narrator
- *ReBoot* (1994), series, as Data Nully (voice)
- *Frasier* (1993), series, as Jenny (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md)
- *The X-Files* (1993), series, as Dana Scully · Director, Writer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-x-files.md)
- *Class of '96* (1993), series, as Rachel
- *Eek! The Cat* (1992), series, as Dana Scully (voice)
- *The Turning* (1992), as April Cavanaugh
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Dana Scully (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *A Matter of Choice* (1988), as Woman
- *Three at Once* (1986), as Woman 1
- *The Turning Door*, as (voice)
- *The Boys from Brazil*, series, as Frieda Steiner

## Gallery

- ![Gillian Anderson as Billy in Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (2026)](https://film.one/media/title/4961/still-00ef7a88f7b9.jpg) Gillian Anderson as Billy in *Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma* (2026) — Image via TMDB
- ![Gillian Anderson as Gina Lavery in Trespasses (2025)](https://film.one/media/title/2058/still-6356e8f5e40a.jpg) Gillian Anderson as Gina Lavery in *Trespasses* (2025) — Image via TMDB
- ![Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully in The X-Files (1993)](https://film.one/media/title/3647/still-4cd7948911a4.jpg) Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully in *The X-Files* (1993) — Image via TMDB
- ![Gillian Anderson as Stella Gibson in The Fall (2013)](https://film.one/media/title/9033/still-8d9497c9d3fe.jpg) Gillian Anderson as Stella Gibson in *The Fall* (2013) — Image via TMDB
- ![Gillian Anderson](https://film.one/media/person/7901/gallery-5ccc62e72849.jpg) Gillian Anderson — Gabriel Hutchinson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Gillian_Anderson_Cannes_Film_Festival_2026_02_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Gillian_Anderson_Cannes_Film_Festival_2026_02_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Gillian Anderson presenting the movie Viceroy's House at the Berlinale 2017](https://film.one/media/person/7901/gallery-4bed70573e08.jpg) Gillian Anderson presenting the movie Viceroy's House at the Berlinale 2017 — Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Gillian_Anderson_Berlinale_2017.jpg/1280px-Gillian_Anderson_Berlinale_2017.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Gillian Anderson at Premiere of Teenage sex and death at camp Miasma at SXSW London 2026](https://film.one/media/person/7901/gallery-69927cb13e07.jpg) Gillian Anderson at Premiere of Teenage sex and death at camp Miasma at SXSW London 2026 — Amy Martin Photography, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Gillian_Anderson_2.jpg/1280px-Gillian_Anderson_2.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Gillian Anderson Fan Expo Canada 2016](https://film.one/media/person/7901/gallery-03c26c062b30.jpg) Gillian Anderson Fan Expo Canada 2016 — GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Fan_Expo_2016_-_Gillian_Anderson_%2832975494672%29.jpg/1280px-Fan_Expo_2016_-_Gillian_Anderson_%2832975494672%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Gillian Anderson](https://film.one/media/person/7901/gallery-3f909ab440d0.jpg) Gillian Anderson — Image via TMDB
- ![Gillian Anderson](https://film.one/media/person/7901/gallery-eba6f4d5c339.jpg) Gillian Anderson — Image via TMDB
- ![Gillian Anderson](https://film.one/media/person/7901/gallery-bab0594d1f10.jpg) Gillian Anderson — Image via TMDB
- ![Gillian Anderson](https://film.one/media/person/7901/gallery-16d30c4ad4f9.jpg) Gillian Anderson — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### BAFTA Television Awards — 0 won, 2 nominated

- 2011: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Any Human Heart*
- 2006: Best Actress (nominated), for *Bleak House*

### Golden Globes — 1 won, 3 nominated

- 1998: Best Actress – Television Series Drama (nominated), for *The X-Files*
- 1997: Best Actress – Television Series Drama (nominated), for *The X-Files*
- 1996: Best Actress – Television Series Drama (won), for *The X-Files*
- 1995: Best Actress – Television Series Drama (nominated), for *The X-Files*

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won, 4 nominated

- 2006: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (nominated), for *Bleak House*
- 1999: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (nominated), for *The X-Files*
- 1998: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (nominated), for *The X-Files*
- 1997: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (won), for *The X-Files*
- 1996: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (nominated), for *The X-Files*

### SAG Awards — 2 won, 7 nominated

- 2001: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (nominated), for *The X-Files*
- 2000: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (nominated), for *The X-Files*
- 1999: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (nominated), for *The X-Files*
- 1999: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (nominated), for *The X-Files*
- 1998: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (nominated), for *The X-Files*
- 1998: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (nominated), for *The X-Files*
- 1997: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (won), for *The X-Files*
- 1997: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (nominated), for *The X-Files*
- 1996: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (won), for *The X-Files*

### Other awards — 5 won, 11 nominated

- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame 2018: star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (won)
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire 2016: Officer of the Order of the British Empire (won)
- Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film 2012: Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film (nominated), for *Great Expectations*
- Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress 2010: Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress (nominated)
- Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film 2006: Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film (nominated), for *Bleak House*
- Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture 2001: Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture (nominated), for *The House of Mirth*
- Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama 2001: Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama (nominated), for *The X-Files*
- British Independent Film Awards 2000: Best Performance by an Actress in a British Independent Film (won), for *The House of Mirth*
- National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress 2000: National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress (nominated), for *The House of Mirth*
- Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama 1999: Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama (nominated), for *The X-Files*
- Saturn Awards 1999: Best Actress (nominated), for *The X-Files*
- Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama 1998: Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama (nominated), for *The X-Files*
- Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama 1997: Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama (nominated), for *The X-Files*
- Saturn Awards 1997: Best Actress on Television (won), for *The X-Files*
- TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama 1997: TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama (nominated), for *The X-Files*
- Theatre World Award 1991: Theatre World Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/gillian-anderson