If you’re familiar with the iconic Gillian Anderson’s work, you’ll know that she nails both US and UK accents.
The Sex Education actor’s on-screen brogues have ranged from Maggie Thatcher’s pinched RP in The Crown to Agent Scully’s American twang in The X-Files.
Of course, her accent was British once more in her recent role as Emily Maitlis in The Scoop.
And her voice changes off-screen too, leading fans to wonder when the real Anderson accent will please stand up.
However, in a 2021 interview, Gillian revealed her “true” accent ― and it makes a lot of sense.
It’s both
In an interview with Scott Lawrence, she explained that growing up in both America and the UK means that her accent is liable to change depending on who she’s talking to.
“It goes back and forth because I grew up in both places, so it depends who I’m talking to,” she told the interviewer.
As you’d expect, her British accent comes out when speaking to a Brit ― and the American twang appears in full force when speaking to those from the US.
“Sometimes it’s conscious because I know someone will be thrown by it so I’ll consciously do it, but the majority of time... if I’m at a dinner party and I’m sat between one of each on either side I literally can’t help it,” she added.
It sounds like she’s bidialectal ― meaning, as Mirriam-Webster puts it, she has a “facility in using two dialects of the same language.”
People on social media were surprised
“Gillian Anderson is such an enigma I no longer confidently know which is her real accent,” one person said on X.
“I was today years old when I found out Gillian Anderson had a British accent. HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS?!” another commented.
“Gillian Anderson having an American accent keeps me up at night because WHY,” said yet another X user; another post reads “I can’t explain it but every time I hear Gillian Anderson’s real accent I feel cheated on.”
All I can say is as a bidialectal gal myself, I’m free to talk about this anytime, Gillian ― in whatever accent you prefer.