Known as: Gillian Anderson
Full Name: Gillian Leigh Anderson
Birthday: August 9, 1968
Birth Place: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Zodiac Sign: Leo
Height: 160cm (5'3'')
Hair Colour: Ash Blond
Eyes: Blue
Shoes Size: 7(US)
Residence: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Occupation: Actress

Early Life
Gillian was born in Chicago on 9th August 1969. She is the world famous star of the biggest show on TV. Her parents, Rosemary and Ed, were hippies from Michigan who moved to England when Gillian was only 2 so that her father could attend film school. The family lived in Crouch End in North London where Gillian attended Coleridge Junior School while her mother worked as a computer operator for the Daily Mirror newspaper and her father completed his film studies.

Although Gillian gained an English accent she was bullied at school. The fact that Gillian was short and had an attitude probably didn't help.

Gillian freely admits that she wasn't the brightest of students and showed little interest in Science, unlike Dana Scully (her screen character in the X-Files). She also talked a lot which got her into trouble. Gillian was more interested in boys than school work and started fairly young.

At the age of eight Gillian had her first boyfriend, called Ivan, who was twelve a the time. The lucky guy didn't appreciate the girl he was going out with who was later to become a huge star. In fact he had no qualms about two-timing her!

Acting was not an interest either at school although she did appear in a play at school, she was part of a crowd standing up at the back wearing a Chelsea FC scarf. "I only got the part because someone else was kicked out!"

The family then moved to Harringay (North London) and Gillian transferred schools. This 'fresh start' became another nightmare. Gillian, once bullied, was determined not to let it happen again but got bullied into becoming a bully!

At the age of 13 her parents decided to move back to the States. They settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which Gillian found boring and named "Bland Rapids". Gillian says, "Despite my problems, I had always considered myself British when I lived here and had trouble adjusting when I went back to America."

Two years later Gillian returned to London for a brief visit and found herself hooked on the New Wave music scene. When returning to Grand Rapids she shocked people by turning up at school as a punk. She wore black lipstick, a nose stud and a safety pin through her cheek. Gillian went ne stwp further and shaved part of her head into a criss-cross pattern and died in purple. She was trying to become as outrageous as possible.

She talked back in class and ook part in classroom pranks. Gillian frequently found herself in the principals office. One former classmate describes Gillian as "a troublemaker" with a hard image and a reputation for giving the teachers a hard time.

At 13, Gillian felt resentful when her parents had two more children, a boy and a girl. Gillian lost her virginity the same year to guy she now descibes as a "neo Nazi". It was less than a fulfilling encounter. "The memory makes me cringe," she admits.

There were a few more sexual encounters that followed. She admits that she felt confused and was crying for attention. At the age of 14 she fell for a local guy Len Wallace, a 24 year old punk musician. Gillian left home and the pair slept rough on friend's floors or derelict warehouses.

The Road to Success
The pair dated for 3 years but split up when Gillian won a place out of 400 kids at the Goodman Theatre School. It was almost as if she had found her vocation in life and she instantly became happier. She says, "It wasn't until I started acting that I felt at peace."

Gillian's first professional acting job was as a teenager in a TV commercial for acne lotion. Later, she won various stage roles. Gillian took acting seriously, she turned up to rehersals on time and was very committed to each role.

When she landed the part in the X-Files couldn't have anticipated that it would be one of the biggest and most popular shows ever.

Gillian also found happiness in her personal life when she joined the programme. She married Clyde Kotz whom she met when he was an art director on the show. They married in Hawaii after a three month romance and have a daughter named Piper.

Gillian is very protective over her girl and admits the 'wierdos' that the series can sometimes attract have made her keep her child away from the cameras. She has insisted that no photo of her daughter will ever appear in the press.

Public Life
Gillian has become a very public person now because of her success. Gillian even has her own male-based Internet fan club, named The Gillian Anderson Testosterone Brigade

As for the future, the film version of the X-Files is about to be released and has her sights set on dominating Hollywood. So hopefully we will look forward to seeing much more of her in the future.