Gillian Anderson (Scully in X files) was born in Chicago and clearly speaks in the programme with an American accent. Then I heard her interviewed on the BBC (on the radio) and she had a perfect English accent. Are there two Gillian Andersons, did I confuse her with another guest or is there a logical explanation?

sancho_pft

I suspect that the interview on the BBC was in connection with her appearance in the BBC TV serialisation of "Bleak House" as Lady Dedlock, for which she sported an almost-perfect English accent. She subsequently received a BAFTA award for that role. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gillian_Anderson Aug 15 06, 9:28 AM

Avin Itoffski

She lived in Crouch End in London between the ages of 15 months and 11 years... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gillian_Anderson Aug 15 06, 9:30 AM

satguru

Aha, she learnt from experience! I used to live not far from Crouch End myself and know it well. I just wonder what made her keep it up for a whole interview. Although I've never heard her speak as herself elsewhere, I very much doubt that is her real accent and I couldn't spot one false vowel in the whole time. Maybe she was practising for her role? Aug 15 06, 11:09 AM

Brainyblonde

I don’t know about Gillian Anderson, but my parents always come home with an accent after visiting England, and they haven’t lived there for 50 years! Aug 15 06, 11:20 AM

zbeckabee

Gillian had no problems at all switching into Lady Dedlock's cut-glass English accent – and in fact, her normal speaking voice sounds remarkably English. "I'm sure some people will be surprised [about my accent in Bleak House] but even more surprised to hear me talking in everyday interviews with an English accent," she says. "I do notice when I'm sitting with someone who is Scottish, Australian or Irish or whatever it is, then I really have to watch myself from just going into, not a proper accent but their rhythms and intonations." http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/10_october/04/bleak_anderson.shtml Aug 15 06, 11:35 AM