Gillian Anderson has admitted to sneaking into gay bars at the age of 12 using a fake ID. The 58-year-old X-Files star made the revelation in a new interview, reflecting on her unconventional childhood and early relationships.
A 'strong-willed child'
Anderson described her parents as “young hippies” and herself as a “strong-willed child” who did not adhere to the rules most children her age followed. Speaking to The Sunday Times Style magazine, she said: “I was getting into gay bars and dancing at 12 with a fake ID. I had the conversation with my mum about the things that were allowed. I was such a strong-willed child she would say there was no telling me, and she’s right. But next was a boyfriend who was so much older — I was 15 and he was 24. We were together for three years.”
Punk in a conservative town
Anderson moved from London to Michigan at 11 and stood out due to her punk rock appearance, including piercings. When asked about growing up in the conservative town of Grand Rapids, she said: “Not only did I not fit in, I didn’t want to fit in. I was a punk in a conservative town. There wasn’t a single other person who had a nose ring and a mohawk. I was very self-conscious, with low self-esteem.”
During this time, she began to explore her sexuality. She added: “One of my first relationships was with an older girl in high school.” Anderson shared that she also had a boyfriend at the time, making the romance feel “secretive and illicit and wrong.” Her boyfriend found out and broke up with her.
Reflections on sexuality
Anderson said she did not think she was gay, explaining: “I’d had a couple of boyfriends. But I definitely felt I didn’t have the language for it. Even later on, when I had other relationships [with women], I’m not sure I ever thought of them as being potentially for ever.”
Anderson has been married twice, both times to men. Since 2016, she has remained tight-lipped about her speculated romance with The Crown creator Peter Morgan, but she confirmed: “The person I consider my life partner happens to be male but I think I would feel the same way if it were a woman. I’d feel, ‘This is my life partner.’ When I was younger, there were parts of my brain that thought [women] were temporary.”
New film role
Anderson is now starring in the film Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma and wishes the project had existed when she was growing up, as she felt like a “lonely teenager.”
