Photo: BEImages/Gregory Pace.Playing Scully with such conviction was enough on its own to get Gillian Anderson an official membership in our good books, but everything she's done since The X-Files has only solidified that. In a new interview with Red magazine, Anderson describes the not-always-peachy way she navigated a career in an industry that, at times, seems dead set against giving women their due.
Dues, both literally and figuratively speaking: In the early days of The X-Files, co-star David Duchovny was pulling a significantly higher paycheck, despite the fact that the show never would have worked without Scully, whose lack of belief was the driving force for most plot points. "At the beginning, the pay disparity was massive," she told Red. "But that happens all the time in Hollywood. It’s, 'do this for me, I’ll get you a job.' All the stuff in the papers today about people in entertainment who have abused their position…"
Luckily, she's had enough success with The Fall (and many other endeavors) that she can now speak freely and boldly about the sexism that plagues her industry without fear of losing work. Or, at least, if there is any threat, she's not letting it get to her. She comes right out and says it: "There are things that are intolerable in today’s world, in terms of the perception of women. Whether they’re vamps or vixens… the expectation that, if a woman is wearing a short skirt, she’s 'asking for it.'"
Clearly, Anderson is not one to mess with. She and Geena Davis should totally hang out, right? Happy to set it up as long as we can come, too. (Red magazine)