Born in Chicago, Anderson has lived in London for more than 20 years, and now calls the UK home. She believes the COVID-19 pandemic marked a significant shift in the homelessness landscape, triggering a rise in vulnerable individuals living without shelter
Acclaimed actress Gillian Anderson has expressed deep concern over the UK’s worsening homelessness crisis, fearing the situation may deteriorate further if the country enters a recession.
Known for her roles in The Crown, Sex Education, Hannibal, and The X-Files, Anderson plays a woman experiencing homelessness in her upcoming film The Salt Path. The 56-year-old star told Sky News that portraying such a role opened her eyes to the growing visibility of homelessness in Britain.
“I’m used to seeing it so much in Vancouver and California and other areas that I spent time. You don’t often see it as much in the UK,” Anderson said. “It’s now becoming more and more prevalent since COVID, and the current financial situation in the country and around the world.”
Born in Chicago, Anderson has lived in London for more than 20 years, and now calls the UK home. She believes the COVID-19 pandemic marked a significant shift in the homelessness landscape, triggering a rise in vulnerable individuals living without shelter.
“It’s a topic that I think will be more and more in the forefront of people’s minds, particularly if we end up going into a recession,” she added.
Despite her long residency in the UK, Anderson has previously stated she would never give up her American citizenship. In a 2024 interview with The Guardian, she explained, “It feels like my cells are American, and my soul is British. So if you ask me to give up my American passport, I would say it doesn’t feel right, no. Absolutely not. I’m American. And if you asked me to leave living in the UK? I’d say this is where I’m most comfortable, understood, accepted.”
Her transatlantic upbringing continues to shape her identity. Anderson frequently switches between British and American accents, often subconsciously. She told the Daily Telegraph, “It goes back and forth because I grew up in both places, so it depends on who I’m talking to. So usually when I’m talking to Brits, it slides into British, and vice versa for American.”
“Sometimes it’s conscious because I know that somebody will be thrown by it and so I’ll consciously do it. Even on the phone my accent will change. Part of me wishes I could control it, but I can’t.”
As she brings attention to homelessness through her latest role, Anderson hopes the film and her advocacy will help ignite greater public awareness and compassion.
