Gillian Anderson has shared her surprise at being named 'Sexiest Woman in the World' in 1996, a period she described as her least confident. At the time, Anderson was a prominent star, known for her role in The X-Files, but was simultaneously navigating the challenges of raising her two-year-old daughter as a single mother after her separation from husband Clyde Klotz.
In an essay reflecting on the nature of sex appeal, Anderson recounted the disconnect between the public perception and her personal reality. "How "sexy" I felt inside – or indeed looked – when the accolade was announced is another story... The ludicrous irony, of course, is that when the "world" declared me its sexiest woman, I felt anything but," she mused. She described being in oversized flannel pajamas while her daughter was present during a phone interview for the FHM article. At that time, she was not dating and felt "shut down, self-protective and detached from my body," a state reflected in her everyday attire.
Despite the accompanying photoshoot featuring a latex bodysuit, Anderson stated that the fantasy projected onto her bore no resemblance to her lived experience, which revolved around work commitments and motherhood.
Decades later, Anderson feels more confident. "The most seductive thing any of us can wear is the quiet conviction that we belong exactly where we are," she noted.
Anderson is currently promoting her new film, "Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma," a queer slasher movie directed by Jane Schoenbrun. The film, which received critical acclaim and a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival, features Anderson as a reclusive actress.
Director Jane Schoenbrun, who identifies as transfeminine and non-binary, described Anderson's performance as "so far from our traditional notions of high-fem sexuality, while also being incredibly sexy and weird." The film is scheduled for release in cinemas on August 21.