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Gillian Anderson is a name we have come across every now and then. But mostly, we know her through her iconic role as Dana Scully in the popular 1998 movie, The X-Files: Fight the Future. The film was a massive hit at the box office, earning $189 million globally. This was her breakout role in the industry, and she hasn't looked back ever since.
She has played significant roles in popular movies and television shows. In fact, she was the very first actress to have won the Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG Award in the same year (1997). But as they say, one cannot explore an actor's true potential until one tries watching them across genres.
So here are 5 Gillian Anderson movies and TV shows you need to watch. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.
Top 5 Gillian Anderson movies and TV shows
The House of Mirth (2000)
In this movie, Gillian Anderson plays a wealthy woman, Lily Bart, who ends up in a scandal, leading to her being boycotted by the 'elite' society. The movie is set in New York and explores themes like hierarchical power play and chastity. Lily comes from a well-to-do socialite family who is seeking to marry a man of the same status quo. But things don't go exactly as she planned.
She is wrongly accused of having a scandalous affair. Anderson gracefully plays the role of a young woman who is forced to face the harsh realities of the elite society to reclaim a 'clean card'.
Johnny English Reborn (2011)
Everyone has watched this timeless classic starring Rowan Atkinson! But, usually, that's the name that crosses our minds when we talk about the movie. Let's navigate how Gillian Anderson's character contributed to the narrative.
As the lead (Atkinson) is set on a mission to stop an assassination plot, Pamela "Pegasus" Thornton (Anderson) heads the British intelligence agency (M17). The same one in which English works. Her performance is commendable in the movie, as the character balances sharp wit with an ability to handle English's broad comedy.
The Fall (2013-2016)
In this TV series, Anderson plays Superintendent Stella Gibson, a sharp-witted, analytical, and cool-headed detective in Belfast. She is trying to track down a dangerous serial killer, Paul Spector (played by Jamie Dornan). Going by the popular belief, smiling faces often hide dark truths. So, it was not easy to hunt the killer down as he hides under the mask of a 'loving family man'.
Gibson had to go overboard and walk on tightropes to get to him. The actor performs gracefully and sets a firm, unapologetic tone in the narrative, but not in an arrogant way.
Sex Education (2019-2023)
Sex Education had created quite a buzz among young audiences when it first aired on Netflix. Years later, fans can't get enough of it. Here, Gillian Anderson plays in one of the strongest and fiercest roles in the series. She's Jean Milburn, Otis' mother.
She is an acclaimed sex therapist, and Otis ends up running a sex therapy clinic at school. Coming back to Jean's character, it balances motherly emotions with individuality. On one hand, she is an oversharer (often to a point where others get uncomfortable), and on the other, she is protective and empathetic towards her child. Also, she is stuck in her own interpersonal and professional struggles.
The Crown Season 4 (2020)
In this season, Gillian Anderson was seen in one of her toughest, yet most powerful performances when she played Margaret Thatcher. To play the UK's first female Prime Minister, she had to adapt to the mannerisms and way of speaking. The season focuses on the differences between Queen Elizabeth II and also how Diana's arrival changed things.
Anderson mirrored Thatcher's rigid posture and tonality to add depth to the character. Besides the political image, she was even seen balancing her personal life. The role fetched her the Emmy and a Golden Globe, and we can see why.
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Gillian Anderson has proved her skills as an actor by working in diverse roles- from a sharp detective to a vulnerable mother and a powerful historical figure. Her versatility is often admired by fans and co-stars.
So, these were the top 5 Gillian Anderson movies and TV shows that deserve a spot on your watchlist, but the list goes on!
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