Gillian Anderson, who rose to fame as FBI Special Agent Dana Scully in "The X-Files," has reflected on her early parenting experiences, admitting she regrets not prioritizing her daughter more during the show's demanding production schedule. Anderson, 58, told The Sunday Times that while she generally has no regrets, there are "a couple of things, in terms of early parenting, that I now would say, I wish I’d thought this through or I wish I’d been less selfish."
Anderson became a mother at 26, welcoming her daughter, Piper, with her then-husband, Clyde Klotz, shortly after "The X-Files" began filming. The series quickly became a global phenomenon, requiring grueling 17-hour workdays. Following her divorce from Klotz in 1997, Piper split her time between Los Angeles, where Anderson was working, and Vancouver, with her father. To maintain educational consistency, Piper attended a French lycée in both cities, which involved regular travel for the young child.
"It was intense for her, with no French in the household, to suddenly be getting a plane every three weeks," Anderson recalled. "It’s a lot to ask of a six-year-old."
Anderson acknowledged that despite being a central star of the show alongside David Duchovny, she may have had more leverage than she realized to push back against the demanding schedule. She previously discussed an alternate life path where she could have worked less, lived more modestly, and been more present for her children, but also acknowledged the allure of her dream career and the satisfaction derived from it.
Her approach to parenting shifted with the birth of her sons, Oscar and Felix, with businessman Mark Griffiths. Despite looking back at her early career choices, Anderson has continued to work steadily in television and film, with recent credits including "The Crown," "Sex Education," and "The Salt Path." She also stars in Jane Schoenbrun's "Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma," which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Approaching 60, Anderson expressed gratitude for her continued career, stating, "I feel very lucky to still be working. I’m having so much fun."