Gillian Anderson, the 58-year-old star known for Netflix hits like Sex Education and The Crown, as well as the classic The X-Files, has spoken openly about her sexuality, sharing that she has been attracted to women in the past.
The Bottom Line
- The Revelation: Anderson discussed her sexual preferences and past relationships with women in a candid interview with The Australian.
- The Creative Push: Her deep dive into intimacy stems partly from her role as therapist Jean Milburn in Sex Education and her curation of anonymous women’s sexual fantasies in the book Want.
- The Turning Point: With a book sequel and a role in the upcoming horror-comedy Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, Anderson indicates she is ready to close the chapter on publicly exploring sexuality.
From The X-Files to Sex Education: The Evolution of an Icon
Long before she won a new generation of fans as the sharp-witted sex therapist Jean Milburn in Netflix’s Sex Education, Gillian Anderson was known for The X-Files. But it was her pivot into projects dealing explicitly with human intimacy that unlocked a new phase in her career and public persona.
That exploration took a literary turn in 2024 when she published Want, a collection of real sexual fantasies written anonymously by women. Now, as she promotes the upcoming sequel More: Sexual Fantasies by Anonymous and prepares for her role in the 2026 horror-comedy Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, Anderson is reflecting candidly on her own desires and romantic history.
Here is the kicker: despite playing characters who dissect human behavior for a living, Anderson admits she is far from a social butterfly in her personal life. Speaking to The Australian, she noted that she isn’t a “big flørter” and watches with mild fascination as other women her age dive enthusiastically back into the dating pool via smartphone apps.
Deconstructing Desire: What Attracts Anderson
When it comes to personal attraction, Anderson didn’t shy away from specifics during her recent press tour. She detailed distinct physical features that catch her eye.
“I love forearms. Pretty hands and forearms can be the sexiest thing in the world,” Anderson told The Australian. When asked about what draws her to the female form, she pointed to specific details: “Lips. Lips can be…, and a butt… collarbones.”
Her romantic history reflects a similarly expansive view. The actress shares three children: daughter Piper, 31, with her ex-husband Clyde Klotz, and sons Oscar, 19, and Felix, 17, with her former partner Mark Griffiths. While gossip columns, including reports from Page Six, have linked her to The Crown creator Peter Morgan since 2016, that is not a relationship she chooses to formally confirm. Regarding her past, she stated simply: “In my younger years, I was in relationships with women,” adding that she currently has a relationship with a man.
| Project / Milestone | Year | Role / Context |
|---|---|---|
| Sex Education (Netflix) | 2019 | Starred as Jean Milburn, sparking her creative focus on intimacy. |
| Want (Book) | 2024 | Published a collection of anonymous sexual fantasies written by women. |
| More: Sexual Fantasies by Anonymous | Releasing the sequel to her compilation. | |
| Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma | 2026 | Secures a central role in the upcoming horror-comedy. |
Closing the Chapter on Public Intimacy
For an artist who has spent the last several years helping normalize conversations around female desire—both on screen and through print—the current promotional cycle marks a natural terminus.
Even as mainstream outlets track her quotes about anatomical preferences, Anderson has signaled that her public deep-dive into the mechanics of desire has an expiration date. She indicated in interviews surrounding her latest literary and cinematic projects that once the current book and film roll out, she is ready to officially close this chapter of her public life.
That boundary-setting speaks to a veteran performer managing her own narrative on her own terms. Whether she is walking the red carpet in Cannes alongside co-stars like Hannah Einbinder to promote projects like A Woman’s Life or stepping away from the podium of sex-positive advocacy, Anderson remains a fascinating study in reinvention.
As she steps back from discussing intimacy on a public stage, her legacy as a trailblazing actress who refused to be boxed in by generational expectations is firmly secured. How do you view the evolution of celebrity candor in Hollywood today? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
