When the first season of The X-Files started, its creators did not even suspect what success this project would gain from the audience. The performer of the main male role, David Duchovny, they approved almost immediately. But the actress Gillian Anderson, who played the main character named Dana Scully, was not approved immediately, and at one time they even wanted to replace her.
The X-Files series
In the nineties, The X-Files pretty much influenced popular culture. Phrases from him became winged, fans copied the style of clothing, hairstyles and makeup of the main character, and the gullible handsome Mulder, performed by David Duchovny, dreamed in millions of spectators in sweet dreams.
In the story, agent Dana Scully (actress Gillian Anderson) becomes the partner of Fox Mulder, who is known among his colleagues for his belief in the existence of aliens and other fantastic phenomena. Dana, being a skeptic and a medical doctor by training, must not only help him, but also watch her new colleague, regularly sending reports on his activities, in other words, she was sent to monitor Mulder.
Despite the difference in worldview and characters, these two soon become friends, and Scully stops spying on her partner, but, on the contrary, helps him. Closer to the finale, an affair begins between the agents.
Currently, the X-Files television project consists of ten seasons and two feature films. It is noteworthy that the short six-part tenth season was filmed fourteen years after the ninth.
The main female character
The full name of this heroine is Dana Katherine Scully, at the time the project began, she was about thirty years old.
Dana Scully (actress Gillian Anderson) was born and raised in a family of Irish who were Catholics. Despite her rational mindset, Dana was very serious about faith, which became especially important to her in the middle of the series. Because of her faith, as well as in memory of her mother, the heroine constantly wears a tiny golden cross on her chest.
Scully received a bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Maryland. Then I decided to study medicine at a specialized school. It was here that she caught the attention of the Bureau of Investigation, and she was recruited. After working for two years at the FBI, she was sent to the classified materials department with Fox Mulder. Dana's official duty was to provide medical advice during the investigations. However, throughout the television series, she often performed autopsies and other medical manipulations.
Throughout the series, everything happened to a heroine named Dana Scully (actress Gillian Anderson): she was abducted by aliens, had cancer, later gave birth to a child with inhuman abilities, but because of circumstances she gave him to another family to protect her.
Gillian Anderson - actress playing Dana Scully
Even at the dawn of The X-Files, looking for an actress to play a leading role, the project management was in her place a sort of long-legged sexy beauty. However, the creator and director of the series, seeing a young and still unknown to anyone Gillian Anderson, insisted on her candidacy. As a result, the role went to her. It is noteworthy that Gillian was four years younger than her heroine, but this did not stop her from getting used to the image and becoming the idol of viewers.
Actress family and childhood
The future "FBI agent Dana Scully" (actress Gillian Anderson) was born in the family of Homer Edward and Rosemary Anderson. The mother of the actress worked with computer programs, and his father was engaged in film production. It was because of his father's work that the Anderson family often moved. So, in childhood, “Scully” happened to live in Puerto Rico and in the UK. When the future actress grew up, the family returned to the United States.
Career Before The X-Files
While still at school, Gillan Anderson showed herself as a rebel, which did not prevent her from studying well. At first, she dreamed of connecting her future with biology, but once in the school drama circle, she fell in love with the theater forever.
To become an actress, Gillian even had to go against the wishes of her parents and run away from home. Fortunately, the girl’s talent was soon noticed, and she was able to go to study at the University of Chicago, De Paul.
After studying, the actress actively participated in theatrical productions not only in the United States, but also in the UK. She was in love with the theater, so she was skeptical about working in films or on television.
However, the briskly begun theatrical career of Gillian unexpectedly stopped, and in order to live, the actress had to moonlight as a waitress. The agent advised the girl to still try herself in the cinema.
At first, the charming actress participated in low-budget television projects. However, she was soon given a minor role in the television series Class '96. It was thanks to her participation in the project that Chris Carter noticed her , looking for an actress for the role of a heroine named Dana Scully. Carter really liked the actress, her photo and manner of playing, and he immediately approved Gillian, despite the doubts of the channel’s management.
It is noteworthy that Anderson herself initially regarded the new television series as a temporary part-time job. However, the girl was mistaken.
Participation in the X-Files project
Dana Scully (actress Gillian Anderson) - the main female character in this project - became the hallmark of the actress. And while Anderson has other roles on her track record, she will forever remain a rational FBI special agent for her fans.
First of all, in the new television series, the actress was attracted to her heroine. After all, Dana was a smart, educated, courageous and uncompromising woman who did not depend on others and always tried to defend her beliefs. To become the embodiment of such a character is the dream of any actress, and Gillian gladly agreed.
At first, only one season contract was signed with Anderson , consisting of thirteen episodes. However, in the middle of the season, Gillian became pregnant. The management of the channel decided to replace it. But Chris Carter once again defended his protege.
To hide the interesting position of the actress, I had to use various tricks, and later generally “kidnap”. However, after a record short maternity leave, Gillian returned to the project.
Since the second season, The X-Files has become mega-popular, and his characters have gained cult status, especially Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. The biography of the actress, starting from this time, was filled with many bright events. So, for participating in the project, she won Emmy, Saturn and the Golden Globes longed for any actor.
In addition, Gillian Anderson, whom the project management did not consider sexy enough for this role, was unexpectedly included in the list of the most beautiful people on the planet according to People.
Other projects involving the actress
Contrary to the majority opinion, Anderson was played not only by a character named Dana Scully. The actress, whose filmography includes more than twenty films and fifteen television series, quite often played and continues to play in the theater, and also participates in voicing cartoons.
Among the achievements of the actress, in addition to "The X-Files", participation in the films "The Last King of Scotland", "Agent Johnny English: Reloaded", "The Last Love of Mr. Morgan" and others. On television, Anderson starred in the TV series Fraser, The Frozen House, The Heart of Every Man, Crash, Hannibal, Crisis, and even in the recent film adaptation of War and Peace.
In addition, Gillian Anderson is actively involved in charity projects. As the actress has repeatedly said in her interviews, her priorities in this area are assistance in the diagnosis and treatment of neurofibromatosis, as well as the protection of animal rights.
The personal life of the actress
Even on the set of The X-Files, Gillian met Clyde Klotz, whom she soon married. From this marriage, her daughter Piper Maru was born. In 1997, the couple broke up.
The second time the actress ventured to tie the knot only after seven years. Her chosen one was the director of documentaries, Julian Ozane. Unfortunately, this union lasted a little less than a year and a half.
After that, she had a rather long relationship with Mark Griffiths, who became the father of her sons - Oscar and Felix.
Actress Gillian Anderson is an exception to the rule. Unlike many others, she never dreamed of a career in cinema and, nevertheless, achieved a lot in this field. Unfortunately, the new season of The X-Files has not gained much popularity, so it is not known whether the sequel will be filmed. Despite this, the actress who played Dana Scully is still loved by her fans who are looking forward to new projects with her participation.