‘X-Files’ star Gillian Anderson reveals parenting regret, says she wishes she was 'less selfish'

Gillian Anderson is looking back at the sacrifices she made as her Hollywood career took off — and acknowledging that some of those choices came at a cost for her family.

In a new interview with The Sunday Times , the 58-year-old actress — who became a household name playing FBI Special Agent Dana Scully on "The X-Files" — opened up about her regrets as a young mother and explained how the show’s grueling production schedule affected her ability to be present for her daughter.

"I have absolutely no regrets in my life," Anderson initially told the outlet before reconsidering.

"No, there are a couple of things, in terms of early parenting, that I now would say, I wish I’d thought this through or I wish I’d been less selfish." SCARLETT JOHANSSON, WHO EARNED $43 MILLION IN 2025, SAYS LIFE IS A CONSTANT 'DEFICIT' AT HOME Anderson became a mother at 26, welcoming daughter Piper with her first husband, "The X-Files" assistant art director Clyde Klotz, just over a year after she began filming the hit Fox sci-fi series.

Her career was rapidly accelerating at the time, with "The X-Files" becoming a global phenomenon and Anderson facing grueling days on set.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER After Anderson and Klotz divorced in 1997, Piper split her time between her mother, who was working on "The X-Files" in Los Angeles, and her father in Vancouver.

OLIVIA WILDE SPEAKS OUT ABOUT THE EXACT MOMENT SHE KNEW RELATIONSHIP WITH JASON SUDEIKIS WAS OVER In an effort to maintain consistency in her daughter's education, Piper attended a French lycée in both cities.

The arrangement, however, meant the young girl was regularly traveling between her parents.

"It was intense for her , with no French in the household, to suddenly be getting a plane every three weeks," Anderson recalled.

"It’s a lot to ask of a six-year-old." The actress said she was working 17-hour days and didn't believe she was in a position to push back against the demanding schedule, despite being one of the show's two central stars alongside David Duchovny.

TOM SELLECK SAYS 'BLUE BLOODS' CAST MADE MAJOR SACRIFICE TO SAVE SHOW BEFORE CANCELLATION "That show couldn’t have done without [me], and so I had leverage that I’m not sure I knew," Anderson said.

Anderson has previously spoken about wondering whether she could have made different choices as a working mother.

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS In a previous interview with The Sunday Times, the actress acknowledged there was another version of her life in which she could have worked less, lived on a smaller scale and been more present for her children .

"There's another version of my life where I could have worked less, had a smaller life and been more present as a parent.