Gillian Anderson’s best post-X-Files role was in a gritty British crime drama you might’ve missed

Gillian Anderson, internationally recognized as the legendary Dana Scully from The X-Files, gave one of the finest performances of her career in a lesser-known British crime drama, The Fall. Although The X-Files showcased Anderson as a seasoned star of science fiction TV, her work in The Fall portrayed an entirely different side of her acting ability, grounded in psychological realism and emotional restraint.

Following years of work in the paranormal genre, The Fall was a surprising and calculated departure for Gillian Anderson. The Allan Cubitt-created TV series aired from 2013 to 2016 for three seasons. The show follows Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson (played by Anderson), who is sent from London to Belfast to solve a cold, historic murder case, only to discover a serial killer in their midst.

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Gillian Anderson as Stella Gibson: A role that redefined her post-X-Files career

Gibson is a detective not just by profession—she is a commentary on systems that obscure justice, gender, and power. The character is personally vulnerable yet commanding in Anderson’s interpretation, an excellent foil to the series’ antagonist, Paul Spector, played by Jamie Dornan. The tension between Gibson and Spector propels much of the show’s psychological intensity.

Compared to many crime dramas where detectives are defined by physical presence or intuitive bravery, Anderson’s technique relies on restraint, calculation, and authority.

Anderson was criticized by some reviewers for not using melodrama in her performance, making her one of the few female stars of crime drama to embody control without emotional excess. Gillian Anderson’s Stella Gibson forgoes clichés and offers a new vision of authority rarely seen on television.

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The structure and themes of The Fall

In contrast to typical whodunits, The Fall reveals the murderer early on. This shift refocuses the narrative on why the crimes are committed and how they impact the individuals involved, including the victims’ families, the police force, and the murderer himself. The narrative places Gillian Anderson’s character at the center of a moral and psychological conflict that prioritizes understanding over mere arrests.

The series explores trauma running through ordinary life, male-dominated workplaces, power dynamics, and misogyny. Gibson’s professional and personal life reflect the challenges of a woman in charge.

Gillian Anderson’s physicality and dialogue are economical throughout the series, enhancing rather than detracting from the emotional depth of the show.

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Reception and critical analysis of Gillian Anderson's performance

Gillian Anderson’s performance in The Fall was widely praised. Critics consistently listed her performance among the best of the series. The show holds an 85% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and Anderson was nominated for a BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress and an International Emmy Award for Best Actress.

Audiences appreciated the slow, atmospheric build of the story, though some criticized its pacing as slow-moving. Anderson’s performance, however, was almost universally lauded. Critics described it as a masterclass in restraint, with many expressing great admiration for her understated and measured acting, which grounded episodes that risked being overwhelmed by their somber subject matter.

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A departure from Dana Scully: How The Fall reframed Gillian Anderson's career

Comparisons to Dana Scully are inevitable, but The Fall allowed Gillian Anderson to portray an entirely different kind of investigator.

Unlike Scully’s scientific and skeptical approach, Stella Gibson is intelligent, perceptive, and deeply human in her methodology. She is not driven by intuition or superstition—her method is grounded, and her reserved demeanor makes her compelling in a distinct way.

This role was pivotal in shaping her career post-X-Files. It solidified her legitimacy as a lead in dark, adult dramas without being typecast. After The Fall, Gillian Anderson starred in The Crown and S*x Education, showcasing her greater range. For viewers and critics alike, Stella Gibson remains one of her most enduring character roles.

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Impact and legacy of the series

While The Fall did not achieve the same global publicity as The X-Files, its impact on the genre is significant. It opened discussions about authority and gender dynamics in crime fiction. More than anything, it freed Anderson to move beyond her most famous role.

She is neither the mother figure nor the psychologically fragile woman—stereotypes that often consume female leads in crime TV. The show’s deliberate pace, psychological depth, and minimalist action made it stand out. Years after its final season, The Fall is regularly cited as one of the underrated crime dramas of the 2010s.

Her performance in the show is still celebrated when discussing great female protagonists on television, particularly in crime and psychological dramas.

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She has had an impressive body of work since The X-Files, but her role in The Fall is a TV gem. The combination of tightly scripted dialogue, a deeply psychological plot, and her subtle yet compelling performance produced something distinct from anything else she has done. For those accustomed to seeing Gillian Anderson in supernatural suspense, The Fall demonstrates her ability to portray real, complex characters.

Although the program never achieved mainstream popularity during its initial release, it has grown more appreciated over time, particularly for Anderson’s acting. This role wasn’t merely proof that Anderson could escape the confines of Dana Scully—it was proof that she was never truly restricted in the first place.

Also read: Are Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny friends? X Files stars reunite at SAG awards 2025