Gillian Anderson has opened up about a little-known chapter of her teenage years, revealing that she had a same-sex relationship with an older girl while she was still in high school.
The actress, best known for her iconic role as FBI agent Dana Scully in The X-Files, spoke candidly about the relationship in a recent interview with The Sunday Times. Anderson described the romance as secretive and said the pair felt they had to hide it because they did not believe it would be accepted.
Her comments offer a personal insight into how Anderson understood relationships and her own sexuality when she was younger, as well as how her perspective has evolved over the years.
Gillian Anderson Recalls Secret Teenage Romance
Anderson revealed that one of her earliest relationships was with an older girl during her high school years.
According to the actress, the relationship was kept private because the two did not feel comfortable being open about their romance. She recalled that it felt 'secretive and illicit' at the time, adding that they believed they had to hide.
The secrecy surrounding the relationship was not simply a personal choice. Anderson explained that when she eventually told someone about the romance, the reaction was negative, reinforcing the sense that their relationship would not be accepted.
The experience appears to have shaped Anderson's early understanding of relationships, particularly at a time when she lacked the language to describe her feelings as she might today.
'I Didn't Have the Language for It'
Despite having relationships with women, Anderson said she did not identify herself as gay when she was younger.
She explained that she had also had boyfriends, which meant she had generally thought of herself as broadly heterosexual. Looking back, however, she acknowledged that her understanding of her own relationships was more complicated than the labels available to her at the time.
Anderson said she 'didn't have the language for it', describing how her perspective developed as she experienced more relationships with women.
Her comments highlight how personal identity can evolve, particularly when someone grows up without the vocabulary or social environment to fully describe their experiences.
A Different View of Relationships Today
Anderson has also reflected on how her attitude towards relationships with women has changed since her teenage years.
The actress has been married and divorced twice, with both marriages being to men. She said she is currently seeing a man and described him as the person she considers her life partner.
However, Anderson made clear that she no longer sees gender as something that would determine whether a relationship could become a lifelong partnership.
She explained that if her life partner were a woman, she believes she would feel the same way. This contrasts with how she viewed relationships with women when she was younger.
At that time, Anderson said there were parts of her thinking that viewed relationships with women as temporary. With age and experience, that perception has changed.
From The X-Files to Sex Education
Anderson's candid comments come from an actress whose career has spanned several decades and some of television's most recognisable dramas.
She became an international star through The X-Files, where she played Dana Scully opposite David Duchovny. The role made Anderson one of the most recognisable actresses of the 1990s and earned her numerous awards and nominations.
She later reached a new generation of viewers through Netflix's Sex Education, in which she played sex therapist Jean Milburn. Her work in the series showcased a different side of her acting career and helped cement her status as a familiar face across generations.
Anderson has also taken on acclaimed dramatic roles, including former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in The Crown.
Gillian Anderson's Honest Reflection on Love
While Anderson's revelation concerns a relationship from many years ago, her comments are ultimately about more than a teenage romance.
Her recollection shows how her understanding of love and relationships has developed throughout her life. Rather than defining herself through a single label, Anderson appears to view her experiences as part of a broader and evolving understanding of partnership.
Her current perspective is particularly striking: although her life partner is male, she said she believes she would feel the same sense of commitment if that person were a woman.
For an actress who has spent much of her career portraying complex and outspoken women, Anderson's latest comments offer another candid glimpse into the person behind the characters. Her willingness to discuss a private part of her past also reflects how attitudes towards relationships, sexuality and identity can change over time.
At 58, Anderson continues to attract attention not only for her work on screen but also for her openness about her experiences away from the spotlight. Her revelation about her teenage same-sex relationship adds another personal chapter to the story of one of television's most enduring stars.
