“They’ve gone through so many, multiple editions of books,” Anderson told ‘Bustle’ in a video interview published on Oct. 28
Gillian Anderson is sharing a sweet literary tradition in her family.
Speaking with Bustle editor-in-chief Charlotte Owen in a video interview on Oct. 28, as part of the publication’s “One Nightstand” series, the actress and author, 56, spoke about how her mother, Rosemary, and her daughter, Piper, bond through reading together.
“My mom was actually really good at reading children’s books and has always been,” Anderson said. “You go to grandma to read books to the kids … She properly does voices and completely gets into the story.”
And while many kids stop reading with their loved ones once they’re able to parse the words themselves, that wasn’t the case for Piper and her grandmother.
“My daughter asked her if she would continue to read to her in her, like, mid-20s,” Anderson added. “And so once a week, they go on FaceTime Audio and my mom reads to her … they’ve gone through so many, multiple editions of books.”
Piper, 30, who Anderson shares with former husband Clyde Klotz, worked in the art department for The X-Files revival in 2016 and 2018. Her mom played FBI Special Agent Dana Scully on the original TV series, which aired from 1993 to 2002.
Anderson shared with Bustle that it was Piper who pushed her to embrace reading more, as well.
“She suddenly had this epiphany that the world of books was her oyster, and I realized that I never had that,” Anderson said. “I’ve still been slightly waiting for that moment, and I keep thinking it’s when I’m in the old people’s home, is when I’m going to make sure that I give myself that moment … that’s my dream.”
Bustle’s new “One Nightstand” series invites celebrity writers and readers to discuss four of their favorite books. Among Anderson’s choices were Marie Hall Ets’ children’s book In the Forest, Afua Hirsch’s nonfiction book Decolonising My Body and the novels Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid and The Coast Road by Alan Murrin. The actress will co-produce a television adaptation of Murrin’s novel with her production company, Fiddlehead Productions, and Element Pictures.
“I love casting things too, and opportunities for good actors and, particularly, a diverse range of actors and nationalities,” Anderson said. “I like finding things that can potentially expand people’s understanding.”
