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HSX
Dovlin's Domain
By HSX Journal Editor-in-Chief
Rod Dovlin
August 29, 1997

Okay, X-Maniacs as promised, the Gillian Anderson interview- from the set of the super-secret X-Files movie set. First off, let me start by saying that there were strict guidelines on what could be discussed. Essentially, anything that would divulge the plot of the upcoming film or series episodes were strictly off-limits. Not that we couldn't ask they just couldn't answer.

Secondly, the interview was a roundtable format, meaning that there were five or six other journalists asking questions all at once. (So don't blame me for the questions that were or weren't asked- I'm only partially to blame!)

Also, Gillian apologized profusely for being less than full energized for the interview. As you'll read in the interview, this is one young woman who gives new meaning to the phrase "putting in long hours".

X-Files Interview- 8/19/97

QUESTION: So, what is the difference between doing an episode of the X-files and doing a movie version?

GILLIAN: It costs more.

QUESTION: Does it physically cost more?

GILLIAN: No, actually physically it seems to be costing less. The hours have been shorter, and, um, there are longer waits in between setups, so there's more rest time and time to do other things, be a mom, that kind of stuff.

QUESTION: What keeps you going at this point? It's been four years, facing five and now a movie?

GILLIAN: I have no idea. Um, what keeps me going? I'm on contract and I (pauses) the character I think, and the knowledge that there is an audience out there that is really devoted to the show and um, many people would kill themselves if we were off the air. (smiles)

QUESTION: Are you getting to do more with the character in the movie as opposed to what you do with TV?

GILLIAN: No, not really. I think that most of the expansion has gone into what we can do with special effects and stuff like that.

QUESTION: From that sense, this is a big X-Files episode?

GILLIAN: Yeah

QUESTION: Is there anything different that your character is doing - that Scully is doing that you wouldn't do normally?

GILLIAN: Um, not really. More action - there's a little bit more action. There's more stunt stuff that we've been doing. You know, it's a big version of an episode, which I think is necessary at this point because we're drawing in people who not only people who have seen the show before and are devoted to it, but people who have never seen it before. I think we're tremendously different than the series, if they were to tune in to the series after seeing the movie they might be disappointed. That there was, you know, that they might have some kind of adverse reaction.

QUESTION: Is it tough shooting the (feature film) climax for a (television) season cliffhanger that hasn't happen yet?

GILLIAN: Not really, I'm basically treating it as something in of itself. You know, we don't really need to know at this point what happens until this point. Yeah, its just, we have episodes that have nothing to do with something that's happened in previous episodes or afterwards, so it kind of feels like one of those.

QUESTION: What was your feeling when they said they were going to make a movie? Were you reluctant at first? Did you just want the time off? Or, did you think it was a good idea?

GILLIAN: Well, at the beginning, I would have rather been working on something different, than spending 12 months a year, rather than 10 months a year, working on this show. But, I started to get excited about it, as I, you know, the discussions were getting more intense, and then finding about the script.

QUESTION: You don't have a scientific background. How do you keep up with everything you talk about in the show?

GILLIAN: I pretend.

QUESTION: So, what have drawn from your past that you're able to pertain toward your character?

GILLIAN: The ability to pretend. I was a good liar as a child.

QUESTION: Has Scully evolved much within the run of the show, do you think? Or, is she pretty much the same person?

GILLIAN: I think she definitely has. I think, um, her and Mulder's relationship has become more equal. And, I think she has become stronger and more independent over the seasons.

QUESTION: You mentioned that there would be more action, and more special effects in the movie. Is there going to be any more romance or anything like that?

GILLIAN: Yeah, there's a bit more. We, um, we found ourselves in a situation that draws us closer together.

QUESTION: How about on the action? Can you be more specific on that? Are you doing any fight scenes?

GILLIAN: Um. . .

QUESTION: Guns?

GILLIAN: No, I don't think either of us draws our guns for the entire film. Mostly just running and climbing and

QUESTION: Dropping the gun . . .(everyone laughs)

QUESTION: Does the film resolve some questions about the show? Or, does it add more questions?

GILLIAN: I think it resolves some stuff. It also adds some questions; it wouldn't be a true X-Files if it didn't.

QUESTION: Your favorite scenes to this point?

GILLIAN: My favorite scenes?

QUESTION: Yes, your favorite scenes at this point in the movie?

GILLIAN: But that would mean telling you about the scenes.

QUESTION: Ah hah! You got me!

QUESTION: Does this lead into to the next season right away? Or do you have any ttime off?

GILLIAN: I think we have two days after the shoot.

QUESTION: We just ran a piece on E! News Daily about your singing career. We were just curious if you had anything else planned along those lines in the future?

GILLIAN: No, not at all. It's not a singing career, it was a one-off, it was fun for the time that it took, but, and well, it's over.

QUESTION: Were you overwhelmed by the coverage on it?

GILLIAN: Um, no not really, I purposely didn't do a lot of press around it because it wasn't about me putting out a single. It was about me having fun.

QUESTION: I think it came off that way, I really did.

GILLIAN: Oh good. I was hoping that people wouldn't be taking myself too seriously.

QUESTION: No, no, no, like I said there's a lot of actors and actresses who go out there and do that have that recording career and build that, and I don't think in any of the news I saw about that, it never came up.

GILLIAN: You don't want to hear me sing. (laughs)

QUESTION: What are the advantages and disadvantages of working with the same people.

GILLIAN: The entire crew (for the film, as opposed to the series, which shoots in Vancouver) is from down here, so we're working with a very, working with different people. There is a continuity with Rob and with David, which helps. It would be difficult to make the transition if it was a new director directing. I really don't have any major scenes with any of the other characters from the series in the movie. You know, it's an X-File, and so everything about it feels familiar. I'm still playing Scully and so there hasn't been any rude awakenings or awkward moments or anything because there is that familiarity.

QUESTION: How much of Scully is you?

GILLIAN: Very little.

QUESTION: How long do you can play Scully?

GILLIAN: Um, for as long as it's good, hopefully. For as long as it keeps the audience's attention, and um, the work remains the same as it has been. Once in a while a new script will come a long and there will be a new motivation for doing good work. Sometimes I really enjoy playing Scully, you know, often I do. I like her very much, and most of the time, it's a joy.

QUESTION: But you're not like Scully, you say.

GILLIAN: It's so funny, because right now I'm very tired and my brains a little dead, I tend to get very focused and serious. So, I'm probably coming off a lot more like Scully right now. (laughs) But, most of the time people say "Oh my god, you're so different from her." So when people ask me, I don't know what to say. I just, (pause), I'm a goofball, and I'm a zillionth as intelligent as she is and you know, she's taller than I am.

QUESTION: Taller? (laughter)

GILLIAN: Yeah

QUESTION: Are there any political of social causes you feel strongly about?

GILLIAN: Yes, there's a disease called Neurofibromatosis and I'm doing some work with NF Inc. around that. I've done some work for the Women's Feminist Majority; regarding (the State of California's) Prop 209 and also (the organization) Violence Against Women and Children.

QUESTION: Did the initial success of X-files surprise you? Or, did you expect it?

GILLIAN: No, I don't think any of us expected it. I think we were all coming in saying, you know, this will probably last for twelve episodes and then we'll all go home and start making movies.

QUESTION: David kind of debunked this when he was out here earlier, but there were all the tabloid reports about your big fights, and hair pulling and everything on the set. . .

GILLIAN: Hair pulling?

QUESTION: He told me you pulled some of his hair. He mentioned that you pulled some of the hair on his arm once. (Anderson laughs) But, you know, the reports of salary squabbles and all this s**t going on the set - he said it was absolute bulls**t. I told him I would go on national television and debunk it for you if you.

GILLIAN: Yeah, well it's insane. You know, um, in terms of the pay dispute that has been handled by the people at Fox and our representatives, and I don't think we had more than a one-minute discussion about it, in all this time. And, it's interesting, because somebody did brought up one thing that had been said about me being angry, and slamming my trailer door, like not talking to him on set because of all of this. If I want to talk him about it, I will. If I'm angry about something, I'll tell him. But it's not about him, its about paying two people who are doing the same job, regardless of sex, and it's not his fault that he makes twice as much. So, there's no reason to take it out on him. I'm not the kind of person who slams my trailer door, and . . .

QUESTION: kicks somebody's wife off the set? (the tabloids had reported that Anderson had kicked Duchovny's wife off of the X-Film set in "a fit of rage".)

GILLIAN: and kicks somebody's wife off the set. It's funny; at that point I hadn't even met her.

QUESTION: Would you like to do this, every couple of years? Do an X-Files movie?

GILLIAN: Maybe every four years. It would be fun.

At this point, Gillian was needed on-set and had to go. Apparently, the X-Files waits for no one not even the press corps. Special thanks to David, Gillian, Chris and everyone at Fox Publicity for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Look for more X-updates in the months leading up to the film's release, right here in the HSX JOURNAL.