Onassis Discussions: Gillian Anderson in conversation with Afroditi Panagiotakou

Gillian Anderson is an award-winning film, television, and theater actress who has carefully curated decades’ worth of iconic and impactful characters. Amongst an impressive collection of nominations, spanning from the mid-nineties to the present day, Gillian has won 2 Primetime Emmy Awards, 2 Golden Globes, and 4 Screen Actors Guild Awards.

She will work with acclaimed director Jane Schoenbrun in the upcoming “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma,” in which she stars alongside Hannah Einbender, for MUBI. She will head the cast of “The Julia Set,” as well as produce the project under her G Nus Media banner; the film is a coming-of-age drama that will co-star Chase Infiniti and Jason Isaacs. She has also joined the production of “Animals,” a thriller directed by Ben Affleck.

In 2025, Gillian starred in Netflix’s wild west drama “The Abandons,” alongside Lena Headey, and as a troubled matriarch in Channel 4’s IFTA-nominated series “Trespasses,” based on Louise Kennedy’s novel set against the backdrop of the Troubles. She also starred in “The Salt Path,” with Jason Isaacs, and in “Tron: Ares,” a return to the beloved sci-fi franchise, alongside Jodie Turner-Smith and Greta Lee.

Additionally, she has joined Bill Nighy and Jame Dornan in lending her voice to animated fantasy film “The Turning Door.”

In 2024, Gillian starred in the Emmy-nominated Netflix film “Scoop,” in which she portrayed former BBC journalist Emily Maitlis, in a dramatization of her infamous “Newsnight” interview with Prince Andrew. 2024 also saw the release of her bestseller “Want,” an anthology of letters from women around the world to Gillian, disclosing their deepest and most honest sexual fantasies. Gillian curated and introduced the letters, and the book was included on “The New York Times” and “The Sunday Times” Bestsellers List, with a sequel in the works.

2023 was a year of exciting projects spanning film and television. At the start of the year, Gillian appeared alongside Christian Bale, Lucy Boynton, Timothy Spall, and Toby Jones in the Netflix murder/thriller, “The Pale Blue Eye.” Later in the year, she portrayed Vivenne in “White Bird” opposite Helen Mirren. She also reprised her role as sex therapist Jean Milburn in the fourth and final series of the hugely popular Netflix series, “Sex Education.”

Gillian’s previous roles include her multiple award-winning role as Margaret Thatcher in the fourth series of “The Crown.” Starring alongside Olivia Coleman’s Queen Elizabeth II, Helen Bonham Carter, Josh O’Connor, and Emma Corrin, Gillian took home a Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, and Critics’ Choice Award for her role as the former British Prime Minister.

Gillian is no stranger to donning the role of iconic historical figures, having also starred as Eleanor Roosevelt in the Paramount+ drama series “The First Lady.” The anthology series delves into America’s presidential past from the perspective of the country’s First Ladies and also stars Viola Davis and Michelle Pfeiffer. Gillian’s other television credits include her role as Joanna in the second series of “The Great,” with Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult, which dramatizes the life of a young Catherine the Great, as well as her role as Miss Havisham in the BAFTA-winning series “Great Expectations.”

Her accolades and popularity have notably stemmed from Gillian’s infamous portrayal of Special Agent Dana Scully on the popular American sci-fi drama, “The X-Files.” She starred alongside David Duchovny from 1993 to 2002 in the TV series’ initial run, and then again from 2016 to 2018. In the years between and the ones that follow, Gillian continues to portray fan-favorite characters.

Gillian has also received great recognition for her roles on stage. She earned her first Olivier nomination for “A Doll’s House,” where she played Nora Helmer. She later received another Olivier nomination as well as a Best Actress win at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards for her role as Blanche Dubois in “A Streetcar Named Desire.” In early 2019, Gillian played Margot Channing in Ivo van Hove’s West End adaptation of “All About Eve,” sharing the stage with Lily James. Gillian has also starred in “What the Night Is For” at the Comedy Theatre and “The Sweetest Swing in Baseball” at the Royal Court.

In addition to her acting work, Gillian is an ambassador for multiple charities including War Child UK (of which she is a Global Ambassador) and Women for Women. She is also an accomplished writer with multiple published texts under her belt. In 2023, Gillian also launched a non-alcoholic, low-calorie, sparkling beverage line called G-Spot.