Gillian Anderson Says She Is Pansexual as X-Files Star Prepares for West End Return

Gillian Anderson has spoken more openly about her sexuality, describing herself as pansexual in a new interview published as she prepares for a major West End return.

The actress, known for The X-Files, The Fall, Sex Education and The Crown, will soon star alongside Billy Crudup in a new production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

The comments were first reported by The Australian, which published its interview with Gillian on 10 September 2026 in Australia. Speaking to writer Nikki Gemmell while promoting her new book More, Gillian described herself as “pan”, with the publication explaining that she meant pansexual

It is one of Gillian’s clearest public descriptions of her sexuality. She has previously spoken about relationships with women when she was younger and discussed feeling sexually fluid, while a 2024 interview with The New Yorker saw her consider whether pansexual or bisexual might describe her.

Pansexuality generally describes attraction to people regardless of gender. Gillian’s latest comments therefore give a clearer indication of how she currently describes her own sexuality after previously avoiding settling on one particular label.

The interview accompanies the release of More, the follow up to her 2024 book Want. Both books bring together anonymous sexual fantasies submitted by women and explore conversations around desire, relationships and intimacy.

Gillian has built one of television’s most recognisable careers since first appearing as Dana Scully in The X-Files opposite David Duchovny in 1993. The role turned her into an international star and remains one of the characters most closely associated with her.

UK viewers also know her as Stella Gibson in The Fall, the formidable detective hunting serial killer Paul Spector, played by Jamie Dornan. More recently, Gillian played sex therapist Jean Milburn in Sex Education and Margaret Thatcher in The Crown, alongside an extensive film and theatre career.

Her next major role takes her back to the West End. Gillian will play Martha in Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? opposite Billy Crudup as George, with Tony and Olivier Award winner Marianne Elliott directing.

Performances begin at London’s @sohoplace on 21 September 2026, with the limited run continuing until 19 December 2026. Josh Dylan will play Nick and Phoebe Horn will appear as Honey, with the production staged in the round.

The play follows married couple Martha and George after they invite a younger couple back to their home for drinks. What follows becomes an increasingly intense night of psychological games, resentment and painful revelations between the four characters.

Gillian has wanted to play Martha for decades, making the production another significant stage role in a career that has moved from The X-Files and The Fall to comedy, prestige television and major theatre productions. Her latest interview now arrives just days before she begins that next chapter on the West End stage.

For fans who have followed Gillian across The X-Files, The Fall and Sex Education, her decision to describe herself as pansexual offers another personal insight into a star whose openness continues to resonate with audiences around the world.