Gillian Anderson has always been open when it comes to talking about sex. The X-Files star and Netflix’s Sex Education icon is back in the spotlight with her latest project—a provocative new book titled Want, a collection of women’s sexual fantasies.
Anderson, who once made headlines wearing a dress adorned with vulvas to an awards show, is no stranger to candid discussions about intimacy. She even launched a soft drinks brand called the G Spot. Now, she’s diving deeper into the conversation about sexual fantasies with Want, a project that brought in over 1,800 anonymous submissions from women around the world.
While Anderson herself is comfortable with the topic, even she admits she found it challenging to articulate her own fantasy for the book. “Suddenly describing the imagery that’s been in my head added a level of intimacy that I wouldn’t have expected,” she shared. Her fantasy is among the 174 in the book, which explores themes like power, submission, and voyeurism.
Anderson describes the fantasies as “honest, raw, and intimate,” and she’s proud of how the project allowed women to express their desires. “This is the book of every woman who contributed,” she said, noting how much joy many women experienced in the act of writing down their fantasies. The book includes stories ranging from tender to taboo, with one contributor fantasizing about a sensual encounter with pop star Harry Styles, while another imagines intimacy on an altar in an abandoned church.
Clinical psychologist Professor Susan Young weighed in on the book, explaining that sexual fantasies are a normal and healthy part of human sexuality. Anderson hopes her book will inspire more open discussions about sex and help people, especially women, explore their own desires outside the expectations set by mainstream pornography.
The project has drawn comparisons to Nancy Friday’s groundbreaking 1973 book My Secret Garden, which also explored women’s fantasies. However, Anderson is surprised by how much shame still surrounds the topic in 2024. She sees Want as a way to push for more honesty and openness around sexual expression, despite living in a world saturated by shows like Euphoria and the multi-billion-dollar porn industry.
Anderson carefully curated the book to ensure it was a safe space for women to explore their fantasies without fear or judgment. While Want steers clear of illegal or non-consensual content, it doesn’t shy away from darker fantasies that still empower the women having them. “In fantasy, the woman is in charge,” Anderson explained, making it an empowering experience.
At 56, Anderson continues to captivate audiences, not just through her acting, but also by leading important conversations about sex and sexuality. Her latest roles in The Abandons and a Channel 4 drama show that Anderson remains at the top of her game. Though she admits aging has made her more self-conscious at times, she embraces it, saying, “That’s the youngest I’m going to look from here on out, so I better embrace it.”
As for which fantasy in Want is hers? Anderson is keeping that a secret. “Mine will stay anonymous,” she laughed.
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