Gillian Anderson wants to be 'looked at adoringly for who I am'
The X Files star spoke about her own desires in a candid interview on Davina McCall's Begin Again podcast, praising women for sending in their personal letters and stories for her book Want and Gillian insisted talking about sex often opens up a much bigger conversation.
She explained: "I think what was remarkable about the book and the conversation that it's started, was because of the courage of the women who submitted the letters.
"The bigger light bulb is: 'If I'm not able to ask for what I want of the person I've been married to for 25 years, does that have any link to why I'm not able to ask for what I want in the work that I do?
"And the raise that I've been thinking about asking for? Or actually to assume that I might be talented at this other thing that I haven't gone after because I've been kind of wrapped up' ...
"I didn't expect the reaction that we've had and I didn't expect that these were the types of conversations that we'd be having. I've had women come up to me and say: 'This has changed my life'. And at the end of the day we're talking about courage really."
She went on to add that a lot of the writing seemed to be about being "seen" and she opened up about how she wants to be looked at by her partner.
Gillian - who is in a relationship with screenwriter Peter Morgan - added: "There's a lot of really, really touching writing in here and real touching honesty and part of that too which really moves me, was women writing about being seen.
"Yes there's a version of a fantasy where even in my mind I look a certain way and I'm imagining that they are desiring me as that way, but actually the thing that I really want is to be looked at adoringly for who I am, and how I look and for that to be the thing that my partner is desiring - not the perfect version of it, but actually you."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Perth Now
Gillian Anderson wants to be 'looked at adoringly for who I am'
Gillian Anderson wants her partner to desire the real her instead of a "perfect version". The X Files star spoke about her own desires in a candid interview on Davina McCall's Begin Again podcast, praising women for sending in their personal letters and stories for her book Want and Gillian insisted talking about sex often opens up a much bigger conversation. She explained: "I think what was remarkable about the book and the conversation that it's started, was because of the courage of the women who submitted the letters. "The bigger light bulb is: 'If I'm not able to ask for what I want of the person I've been married to for 25 years, does that have any link to why I'm not able to ask for what I want in the work that I do? "And the raise that I've been thinking about asking for? Or actually to assume that I might be talented at this other thing that I haven't gone after because I've been kind of wrapped up' ... "I didn't expect the reaction that we've had and I didn't expect that these were the types of conversations that we'd be having. I've had women come up to me and say: 'This has changed my life'. And at the end of the day we're talking about courage really." She went on to add that a lot of the writing seemed to be about being "seen" and she opened up about how she wants to be looked at by her partner. Gillian - who is in a relationship with screenwriter Peter Morgan - added: "There's a lot of really, really touching writing in here and real touching honesty and part of that too which really moves me, was women writing about being seen. "Yes there's a version of a fantasy where even in my mind I look a certain way and I'm imagining that they are desiring me as that way, but actually the thing that I really want is to be looked at adoringly for who I am, and how I look and for that to be the thing that my partner is desiring - not the perfect version of it, but actually you."
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Perth Now
Mutual support is key to a happy marriage, says Rita Ora
Rita Ora thinks mutual support is the key to her marriage to Taika Waititi. The 34-year-old pop star has been married to the Hollywood director since 2022, and she's now explained why their relationship works so well. The chart-topping singer told People: "I think just respect and supporting each other through our own separate careers, ventures, space and just honouring that and being support systems." Rita and Taika, 49, were good friends before their relationship took a romantic turn, and she thinks that's been key to their success, too. The Hot Right Now hitmaker - who previously dated the likes of Calvin Harris and Andrew Watt - said: "Being best friends, I think, is really great." Rita recently revealed that she's like "the fairy godmother" to Taika's children. The director has two kids with his ex-wife Chelsea Winstanley, and Rita admitted that she has a great relationship with his children. During an appearance on the Begin Again with Davina McCall podcast, Rita shared: "It is so fun. I just have the best time with them. "I'm like the fairy godmother [who] gives them all the sugar and all the ice cream, and then sends them back. And their mother, who I love dearly, is like, 'They're bouncing off the walls.'" Rita also revealed that she relished the experience of taking the kids to see Ed Sheeran, her long-time showbiz pal. The singer said: "I think that's the fun part of being a stepmom, like you can do those naughty things. I take them out, and I took them to an Ed Sheeran concert. They met Ed Sheeran, like, I was giving it all to these kids!" Meanwhile, Rita recently confessed that she wants to "celebrate [her] sexuality" through her new music. The singer released her latest single, Heat, last month, and Rita admitted that it's a taste of things to come. She told People: "The whole theme of this record is really about being instant [and] really direct with my messaging and stripping everything back behind me, production wise." Heat was co-written by Troye Sivan, and Rita feels she has "a lot in common" with the music star. Rita said: "I love his sexuality and the celebration he has with that. "I was really inspired for me and my womanhood to really kind of celebrate my sexuality, my sexiness and get back into my body, you know? And this really just embodied that."
Perth Now
13-07-2025
- Perth Now
Rita Ora's new music 'celebrates her sexuality'
Rita Ora wants to "celebrate [her] sexuality" through her new music. The 34-year-old pop star released her latest single, Heat, last month, and Rita admits that it's a taste of things to come. The chart-topping singer told People: "The whole theme of this record is really about being instant [and] really direct with my messaging and stripping everything back behind me, production wise." Heat was co-written by Troye Sivan, and Rita admits that she has "a lot in common" with the music star. The singer - who is married to Hollywood film director Taika Waititi - shared: "I love his sexuality and the celebration he has with that. "I was really inspired for me and my womanhood to really kind of celebrate my sexuality, my sexiness and get back into my body, you know? And this really just embodied that." Rita hasn't released a new album since 2023, and she's now keen to reintroduce herself to the public. The pop star said: "I just feel as if I have so many things to sort of remind the public with, especially my new fans. I kind of love the idea of explaining who I am again." Meanwhile, Rita recently revealed that she's like "the fairy godmother" to Taika's children. The director has two kids with his ex-wife Chelsea Winstanley, and Rita admitted that she has a great relationship with his children. During an appearance on the Begin Again with Davina McCall podcast, Rita - who married Taika in 2022 - shared: "It is so fun. I just have the best time with them. "I'm like the fairy godmother [who] gives them all the sugar and all the ice cream, and then sends them back. And their mother, who I love dearly, is like, 'They're bouncing off the walls.'" Rita also revealed that she relished the experience of taking the kids to see Ed Sheeran, her long-time showbiz pal. The singer said: "I think that's the fun part of being a stepmom, like you can do those naughty things. I take them out, and I took them to an Ed Sheeran concert. They met Ed Sheeran, like, I was giving it all to these kids!"
