Gillian Anderson's Awkward Newsweek Interview

Gillian Anderson reprises her role as Agent Dana Scully in "The X-Files: I Want to Believe." She spoke to Ramin Setoodeh.

I've got to confess. I don't know anything about "The X-Files."
OK.

Why is it such a big deal?
Ohmygod. You're not going to do this to me, are you? Tell me you're not going to do this. Oh come on! It's been such a long time. Hire somebody that knows enough that we don't have to explain this again.

I saw the last movie, but I didn't watch all nine seasons.
I mean, nobody did. Did they? Yes. There are some people that did. But that's cool. I love running into people who have no idea what it's about.

Was it hard getting back into character?
It was a little odd. It was more disconcerting than I anticipated. I expected it to be a breeze. But I tried so hard since the series ended to do things as different as possible from the character. When I was faced with making acting decisions on that character again, my brain started backfiring and internally combusting.

You're a mom now. Do you travel with all your kids?
All my kids!? You make it sound like I have a bushel.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Megaflow]

That interviewer is inept. Ms. Anderson was obviously having a short-tempered day (or maybe that's just her personality), but a good interviewer would have been more knowledgeable, less confrontational, and actually had some intelligent follow-up questions to ask when his lame questions weren't working out. This is NOT an example of professional journalism to me - it reads more like filler in a local "penny saver" paper.

[Eric8869]

If a reporter had started an interview with me saying they were not familiar with my work and why is it popular. (Implying that it shouldn't be) I would have walked out. She showed lots of class with a classless interviewer.

[byungkuk]

Newsweek has really gone down the drain...seems even more nowadays.

[Darsan54]

Man, how hard can be to find a person who actually knows about the X-Files and maybe do a little research about Anderson's other roles. I understand she has been been doing some impressive classic film and stage work. But, I also understand Anderson has always had a bit of attitude going back to her days at City High in Grand Rapids, MI.

[zmster]

Hm, straight from McDonald's to writing for Newsweek? And they wonder why their readers are abandoning them like rats from the Titanic. Hey HP, how about a more apt headline like: Gillian Anderson's Awkward Newsweek Interviewer" or "Is There Any Intelligent Life At Newsweek?" or "The Truth is Out There: Ramin Setoodeh Should Have Never Picked Up A Pen." It amazes me that the more inept "reporters" become the more arrogant they become.

[MacBoy]

Just goes to show that Newsweek is the worst weekly magazine in the country.

[twohearts]

What a dopey interview - and also some dopey comments (believe me, Gillian A. does not work at an Olive Garden!)

She's been doing some great acting in Britain, playing a stunning Lady Dedlock in Bleak House, and was good even as Lily Bart in the completely confusing House of Mirth. She's always been a different kind of actress....Her work after the show has been a lot better than David D's.

So, yeah, I'd hope for a better interviewer...

[satyriasis]

It's no secret Anderson dislikes the X-Files. She herself has said she didn't expect the series to last more than a few episode and was surprised when it caught on. I loved her as Scully but she just viewed her work as a pay check and nothing more. I heard she's even rude to fans who approach her. The X-Files isn't high brow enough for this elitist.

[MikeDu]

Her interview was charming. Not one run-of-the-mill answer in the bunch. 90% of movie promo interviews are so formulaic that they could be scripted in advance and handed out on postcards.

[geobushono]

unf*ckingbelievable!

[mamacat]

I find Ms. Anderson's acting fascinating, as if she is always holding something back, but about to let us see the depths of her soul.

I think an interview with this particular interviewer might be very interesting. Is it possible that he is as airheaded and vapid as he appears?

[martinchill]

i think this Ramin Setoodeh is the same 'interviewer' that huffpost keeps telling us was just simply asking innocent questions when his subject just went all weird on him... seems to be a trend.

yep - here it is:

Clay Aiken's Incredibly Awkward Newsweek Interview
Newsweek
January 12, 2008

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/12/clay-aikens-incredibly-a_n_81198.html

[martinchill]

awkward, indeed....

[dac253]

Stuttering John did great interviews asking questions like, "What's your name?" and, "What are you famous for?"

But this guy really is daft; the title of the article is, "Gillian"s Still a Bit Spacey."

Anyone familiar with her knows she was never spacey and he just got owned by her in a big way.

[Aramingo]

Ah, Newsweak. What's next? Sending someone who is hearing impaired to interview Stevie Wonder? I mean really.

[andhakari]

How much effort would it take an interviewer to read a little about the show, or even rent a few episodes, before bothering Anderson with his incompetance. Better yet, his editor could have found someone with a little interest or talent for the job.

[jiggystyles]

worst reporter ever....