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EAT, PREY, LOVE

Gillian Anderson on Hannibal, her return to The X-Files and her favorite role yet

BY MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

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| TV GUIDE MAGAZINE

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: DAVID VENNI/CHILLI MEDIA; BROOKE PALMER/NBC; LARRY WATSON/FOX

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illian Anderson has racked up quite a few frequent flier terrified and realizes that she is in over her head. But she is also miles over the past two years. The actress—who kept a low somewhat addicted to him and to the excitement of the world profile for much of the 2000s after The X-Files ended—has that he provides. As much as Bedelia may feel like she has a been hopping between Chicago for NBC’s now-canceled Crisis; plan, that can turn in a split second. He can suddenly decide Ireland for BBC’s The Fall (available here on Netflix); Florence, Italy, that he wants to eat her. [Laughs] for NBC’s Hannibal; and Eastern Europe for BBC’s War and Peace She and Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) are in similar situa(which will air in 2016 on A&E, Lifetime and History). Currently, tions, and later this season, Will and Bedelia meet up. she’s in Vancouver shooting Fox’s X-Files revival.

What’s the dynamic between those two characters? Their “The fact that it’s all been able to scenes have a very different feel to fit in without too much death is a them. There’s a chess game that good thing,” she says with a laugh.

Bedelia and Will are playing as well.

“I’m still alive, even with the nine They’re both after the same king. billion flights I had to take to make it But they’re as enthralled by Hannipossible. Last year, I did a play that bal as they ever have been. It’s alI’ve wanted to do for 30 years—A most as if they’re sharing a lover.

Streetcar Named Desire—in London, What has it been like to return to and we’re taking it to New York The X-Files? Going back is wild. I soon. So it’s been very full and satishave to pinch myself every day fying on my end.” because it’s so strange seeing the Hannibal creator Bryan Fuller, who same people—even some of the calls Anderson his muse, says both same crew are working on it. It’s alhe and the actress “bent over backmost like time has stopped. I haven’t ward” to accommodate her schedule quite figured my way into it yet. so she could become a regular on the Was it difficult to revisit Dana NBC thriller. As a result, fans are Scully, a character you haven’t learning more about the complex played in so long? It’s comfortable, relationship between Anderson’s Dr. but it’s more challenging than I exBedelia Du Maurier and the devilish pected to push the other characters doc, Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikout of the way. It’s really great to kelsen). “We’ll find out how she came work with David [Duchovny] and to be in Hannibal’s debt,” Fuller hints. [creator] Chris [Carter] again.

Although NBC isn’t bringing HanWhen TV GUIDE MAGAZINE held an nibal back for a fourth season, Fuller X-Files reunion at Comic-Con in is shopping the series around for a 2013, you were a little hesitant new home. “Hopefully, someone is about doing a TV reboot. I was cool enough to give it a second life,” more than a little hesitant.

Anderson says. If not, Fuller wants to You said it would not happen. cast the actress in his next project, What changed your mind?

Starz’s American Gods. “We have I finally realized that there was no talked about staying in each other’s way we were ever going to do anorbit after Hannibal,” Fuller explains. other film, and if we wanted some “She is a storyteller and I really value kind of closure, there was only one her sense of narrative.” way it was going to happen. Chris We spoke with Anderson about and David convinced me that it Hannibal psychiatrist Bedelia Du Maurier juggling it all. wouldn’t be a horrible idea. has a plan to protect herself from Lecter And right after this, you film but “could end up having her throat slit,” How did your full-time gig on Season 3 of The Fall with Jamie warns Anderson (with Mikkelsen, top); Hannibal happen? I first signed on Dornan. The Fall is one of my favorwith Duchovny in the original X-Files for a three-episode arc [in Season 1] ite projects, and Stella is probably and didn’t realize I would enjoy playmy favorite character I have ever ing her and working with Bryan and Mads as much as I did. played. In the beginning, there was a battle when I was doing When Bryan suggested that we add more Bedelia this season, it Hannibal and Crisis–nobody [at NBC] really wanted The Fall to was a wonderful opportunity to expand the character. I loved the happen. Somehow, what felt like the end of the world to certain premiere—just the idea of these two very complicated people [network executives] has become a bit more acceptable. jumping on a plane to Europe together, that itself makes for a Does it give you whiplash as a performer to tackle such beautifully, potentially romantic, terrifying novella. wildly different roles? Not that much. I have certain ways of How much is Bedelia in control? She and Hannibal are playing delineating them. So far so good. cat and mouse, and at varying times one of them is on top. She’s HANNIBAL, Thursdays, 10/9c, NBC WHAT’S WORTH WATCHING

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