Gillian Anderson Wants to Know What Turns You On
The Cut • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Gillian Anderson, known as a '90s sex symbol and now a sex-positive figure, has embraced her role as a confidante for women's erotic fantasies through her books Want and its provocative follow-up, More, which feature anonymous female submissions exploring diverse and taboo desires.
- Anderson's role as Dr. Jean Milburn, a frank sex therapist in Netflix’s Sex Education, significantly influenced her own sexual confidence and openness, building on previous characters like Stella Gibson that helped her embrace sensuality.
- Inspired by Nancy Friday’s 1973 book My Secret Garden, Anderson sought to update and expand the conversation around female sexuality, especially amid increasing restrictions on women's sexual freedoms following the repeal of Roe v. Wade.
- Anderson identifies as pansexual, reflecting a deeper understanding of her sexuality over time, and is actively involved in projects that explore queer themes and complex narratives, such as Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma.
- Looking ahead, Anderson plans to focus more on film roles and producing, including upcoming projects like a new book and a production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, signaling a shift from television to more diverse creative endeavors.
