Gillian Anderson returns to work on The X-Files just 10 days after giving birth, opens up about the challenges of motherhood: ‘I was totally overwhelmed!’

Gillian Anderson has candidly discussed the struggles she has faced as a working mother of three children, in a recent interview.

The Sex Education actress, 55, detailed her overwhelming experience of motherhood and admitted that she ‘didn’t know what the f*** she was doing’ after the birth of her first child.

After welcoming her daughter Piper into the world in 1994, Gillian was straight back to work 10 days later on set filming for The X-Files.

Speaking about the strenuous time with Grazia, Gillian said: ‘I didn’t know what the f*** I was doing! You’re upside down and you feel, sometimes, like you’re slightly going mad. And I had help.’

Gillian has a grown-up daughter, Piper, 29, with production designer Clyde Klotz, but two teenage sons as well – Oscar, 15, and Felix, 17 – with ex Mark Griffiths. 

Gillian Anderson, 55, has candidly discussed the struggles she faced as a working mother of three children

After welcoming her daughter Piper into the world via C-section in 1994, Gillian was straight back to work 10 days later on set filming for The X-Files (pictured with David Duchovny in the series)

She added: ’10 days after a C-section. I wouldn’t have chosen that but I had no choice.

‘I had help and I still struggled. Woman who raise children on their own are superwomen, they are amazing.’ 

It comes after, Gillian made a bold fashion choice for the 2024 Golden Globes, wearing a dress subtly embroidered with vaginas.

The star looked stunning in a strapless white custom gown designed by Gabriela Hearst for the ceremony in Beverly Hills.

At first glance, it looked as though the star had chose a classic gown but fans zooming in soon noticed the dress was covered in female anatomy motifs.

Speaking to Deadline on the red carpet, Gillian confirmed the design, shrugging when asked why she chose the gown: ‘Oh for so many reasons. It’s brand appropriate.’

In another red carpet interview with Extra Gillian explained that the dress was a collaboration between Hearst and her ‘alternative wellness brand,’ G Spot.

‘Yonis [the Sanskrit word for womb], there are so many yonis on my dress,’ she said. ‘It took 3 1/2 hours per yoni to embroider, and there are a lot. So it was about 150 hours of embroidering.’ 

The Sex Education actress detailed her overwhelming experience of motherhood and admitted that she ‘didn’t know what the f*** she was doing’ after the birth of her first child

Speaking about the strenuous time with Grazia, Gillian said: ‘I didn’t know what the f*** I was doing! You’re upside down and you feel, sometimes, like you’re slightly going mad. And [unlike Jean] I had help’

Gillian has a grown-up daughter, Piper, 29, with production designer Clyde Klotz (pictured with Piper in 2017) 

Gillian also has two teenage sons as well – Oscar, 17, and Felix, 15 – with ex Mark Griffiths. She is pictured with Oscar and Mark, while pregnant with Felix, in 2008

‘Since my Instagram presence has been highlighting yonis since Sex Education landed on Netflix and with the mantra of my brand G-Spot being to “prioritize pleasure,”‘ I wanted to bring this element into the design,’ she added to British Vogue.

Gillian added to the fun by sharing a photo of herself tucking into some dinner after the show, quipping in the Instagram caption: ‘Sometimes you just need a sausage to go with your yoni dress.’ 

Hearst meanwhile declared the look was ‘vulvaliciously chic’ on her Instagram post as the gave an insight into the epic construction process.

‘Gillian wears an ivory wool silk structure cady corset gown with custom embroidery. Made entirely in New York City, the embroidery was crafted in the garment district and the gown was assembled at the in-house studio. Each motif took approximately 3.5 hours to embroider.’

The dress was met with an outpouring of love by fans online with one tweeting: ‘Gillian Anderson wearing a dress embroidered with vaginas oh she is and will always be the moment.’

‘are those vulvas on gillian anderson’s dress… i love her so much’ declared another.