After I did nine years of a television series, I didn't want to do anything really that involved going to a set and being in front of a camera for quite a while. And when I did start to want to do things, I wanted to focus more on film.

She attended Fountain Elementary and then City High-Middle School a program for gifted students with a strong emphasis on the humanities; Gillian Anderson graduated in 1986. " While filming Anderson met assistant art director Clyde Klotz whom Gillian Anderson would eventually marry. Her support stems from her brother being diagnosed with the disease.

Her film work includes The House of Mirth (2000) The Mighty Celt (2005) The Last King of Scotland (2006) and two X-Files films The X-Files (1998) and The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008). After beginning her career in theater Anderson achieved international recognition for her role as Special Agent Dana Scully on the American television series The X-Files.