The X-Files: New York Comic Con Paley Center X-Files Q&A with Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny

I’ve linked to parts of this great QA before, with Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny, moderated by my friend Keith Uhlich. It’s a hoot, and I know how much it meant to Keith to be asked to do this. It was, seriously, a dream come true, and he did a wonderful job. But the whole thing is so entertaining. Worth your time!

Here’s the whole thing:

Auditioning for the roles of Mulder and Scully

Gillian Anderson: “And then I told you I was from New York–”
David Duchovny: “Which isn’t true!”

I love Duchovny’s point about how their voices changed, got lower, after the pilot. “It’s not because we went through puberty. It was because we relaxed.”

I love too how they don’t remember the episodes. “What happened next?” they ask Keith.

“I thought the show was gonna tank.” Gillian Anderson.

Did they have a sense of what a hit it would be? And on the writers of the show.

“… bitter and innocent at the same time.” – David Duchovny, a phrase I love

Puppetry of the Penis. Dying.

“They were very clean Canadian cockroaches.” – David Duchovny

The structure of the series, some clips, etc.

Duchovny: “We were just trying to keep up.”

Loved Duchovny’s thoughts on directing for the first time.

“Where was I when you were doing all of this?”
“You were –”
“Getting married, having a baby, getting divorced.”

Both of them remember directing/writing episodes, the “cancer arc”, etc.

“All of a sudden I’m scared to death of fire.” – David Duchovny

“Well, that’s serious, when someone shoots someone.” – Duchovny

On Chris Carter. On the two movies. On ending the series.

“Darren’s stuff was sui generis,” says David Duchovny, gaining my ever-lasting gratitude for using one of my favorite Latin terms

“I know me, and if I read in a script that it says I touch your hand, I’d be like Fuck You.” – Duchovny

Audience questions.

Person in the audience: “First of all, thank you for existing.”

“You make 25 episodes a year and it’s amazing the batting average the writers had.” – Duchovny

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4 Responses to The X-Files: New York Comic Con Paley Center X-Files Q&A with Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny

  1. Sofia says:

    LOVE this! They’re always so much fun in interviews. I’m bookmarking the ones I can’t see right now, thanks for sharing again!

  2. Mr. Lion says:

    Great find. Easily two of my favorite actors if for nothing other than their wonderful sarcasm and openness. A lot of those kind of interviews are so much pretentious glop– this is “Can you believe they paid us to do this?”– which is awesome.

    First bit is my favorite. Okay, you’re in a small, cramped, hot room running on caffeine and a few hours sleep, with someone you’ve never met. Act! Anyone who’s ever been there must have shuddered.

    • sheila says:

      I love the bit about her driving Jill Hennessy to the airport or something, and they’re both up for the role. So cute.

      and yeah: Open up, do your best, with people sitting right at your knee. Go!

      I love their chemistry together. And pal Keith did a great job.

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