folie à deux @exhuming-yourpotato - Tumblr Blog

Was watching a few Gillian Anderson interviews and had a thought:

I think what is most tantalizing about DD and GA-- aside from their natural chemistry-- is how open she becomes in his presence. Compared to her pause and careful reserve in interviews where she may or may not know the other person, in his company her English "soul" slips away while her American "cells" reactivate: an "Oh, I know you" automatic response.

Their friendship, the history of their relationship, has been forged in quarters so tight that both saw the worst and best of each other. They've laughed, they've cursed, whined and complained, forgiven, told jokes, did their best to accept the good and bad days. What do they, or could they, hide from each other after all these years? What reticence or performance of reserve would feel natural given their singular experience? None, therefore they don't bother with one.

It's taken years to articulate that part of their dynamic; but this explanation rings true to me.

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David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson: Twenty Years of Long Words

March 1996: John: When we did our X-Files issue earlier this year, we noticed David Duchovny used long words like autoerotic asphyxiation in his interview. So, er, what is a typical David word?

Gillian Anderson: (laughs hysterically) Autoerotic asphyxiation! that is a typical David Duchovny word. Autoerotic, because it has to do with sex, and because it's long. Most of the time when I read his articles it takes me so long to decipher exactly what he's saying.

John: Does he actually talk like that?

Gillian Anderson: Yeah, he does! But mostly when he's doing interviews. I mean, I think it's because he's got such a vast knowledge of words. He's studied the theory of words. He pulls it out when it's needed most, like in interviews.

January 12, 2016: DD: We met in the anteroom before going in to read--

Kimmel: Anteroom? I haven't heard anteroom before.

GA: I haven't. He's nervous. [Pats DD's leg, teases] It's okay, it's okay.

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X-Files Spacecon Panel 2026 David Duchovny Gillian Anderson Mitch Pileggi

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No one seizes an opportunity quite like Duchovny does.

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SpaceCon Panel with Mitch, David and Gillian

Thanks @kyouryokusenshi for the vid!

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Love that pic of them.

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randomfoggytiger

(Credit to: showgirlscully)

What Mitch Pileggi and Gillian Anderson got from The X-Files.

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DD Facilitating His Friends' Happiness

DD's last comment ("I'm here to help") reminded me....

SUPPORTING ANDERSON'S SECRET

March 11, 1995: "I was so green. It was only my second time in front of a camera. I desperately needed someone to show me the ropes. And he did that. He was wonderful."

Little wonder, then, that Anderson, 25, turned to David again when she was pregnant. It was last winter, they were still in the thick of their first season in a series showing real promise, and Anderson was worried about losing her job. "I went into his trailer," she recalls, "and I said, 'David, I'm pregnant.' It looked like his knees buckled. I think he said, 'Oh, my God.' And he asked me if it was a good thing. I said, 'Yeah, it is.'" No one else knew, and Duchovny kept it that way for weeks, until Anderson was ready to tell her producers and deal with the professional consequences. "We really trust each other," Duchovny says simply.

October 1996: Other than her husband, the only person she told was Duchovny. "He is a friend and I trust him completely," she says. "And he trusts me."

Duchovny advised her not to have an abortion, telling her things would work out. And they did. He kept her secret...

INTRODUCING THE PILEGGIS

January 2000: The best thing he's got from the show is his wife-who's actually Gillian's photo double. Arlene Pileggi, who also plays a secretary on the show, married Mitch three years ago. "David Duchovny introduced us. We were sharing a scene in a café, after which Chris Carter asked her to play a waitress. We got dating and…"

September 8, 2013: I actually did a panel with Gillian and Robert Patrick in Calgary a few months ago, and revealed that Skinner always had a huge crush on Scully. That's why he was always p*ssed off with Mulder all the time, because he was jealous. Gill said, "What? I didn't know that!" And I went, "Yeah, baby. I was crushing on you." It's funny, because I married her photo double. It just kind of happened - we were all on Christmas hiatus and going to Hawaii, and as we were flying over I asked David to be my best man. It was all pretty low-key. Chris Carter and his wife were there, and Lance Henriksen and his wife.

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David smiling at Gillian.

Space con, San Antonio, June 13th 2026.

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(Credit to: DrDuchovny)

Mitch Pileggi wants to be included on the sexy question.

(Also included: DD tried to get Skinman some sexier action.)

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Couch-snuggling during an interview first happened long before Kimmel! Gillian and David appeared on Entertainment Tonight immediately following their wins at the Golden Globes in 1997, when Gillian attended as David’s official date (featuring lots of cute hand-holding on the red carpet as shown in this post.)

INTERVIEWER (to David): You’re so laid back about this. Inside are you really excited?

DD: I'm excited outside

GA: *gesturing towards David* This is excited! *lays her hand gently on his chest* (as shown in picture above)

DD: *deadpan* I'm beside myself! *gestures next to himself* I'm over here!

–Following this exchange they toasted their success with champagne, and it’s worth mentioning that David didn’t remove his arm from behind Gillian during the entire interview (even whilst raising his champagne flute!)