Gillian a north star in new Troubles series

X-Files actress shines bright in TV role

- BY YOLANTHE FAWEHINMI

WHEN Gillian Anderson first read Louise Kennedy's Trespasses, she admired how the relationship between a mother and daughter was conveyed in the pages of the Irish writer's 2022 debut novel.

It's why the Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actress said yes to portraying Gina, the alcoholic mother of protagonist, Cushla, in the new Channel 4 series.

"I loved the book so much. At the time, I don't think Gina was as present in the book as she is in the series, but by the time scripts started coming in, she had expanded, and I loved everything about how she was being written," says Anderson, 57, best-known for playing Dana Scully in The X-Files.

"I have played an alcoholic before in theatre, but I've never really played a proper alcoholic in film or television. So I wanted to play with that.