Gillian Anderson wanted to stop acting after this movie, even though it’s a pure masterpiece!

Gillian Anderson has been making her mark on both the small and big screens for over thirty years. If there’s one oh-so-memorable role that largely helped catapult his career into orbit, it’s that of FBI agent Dana Scully on the cult TV series The X-Files.

“I’ve had the opportunity to play some very iconic characters. That’s what gives the word icon meaning. Without those characters, I probably wouldn’t have that label.” An interested person entrusted journalists with a microphone in 2022, when he was invited to the Chancery.

add: “With Scully, there were definitely moments in the ’90s when I felt like I had a responsibility as an inspirational role model for women, and it was almost a burden because I didn’t think I could live up to that look on me. I became paranoid about the paparazzi catching me in moments of weakness. to the point.”

A devastating and deeply unfair failure

Between the two seasons of The X-Files (8th and 9th), Gillian Anderson made the film Among the Happiest People in the World; An adaptation of the famous 1905 novel by novelist Edith Wharton, to whom we also owe A Time of Innocence, to be adapted by Martin Scorsese.

Story ? At the beginning of the 20th century, in the heart of New York high society, where superficiality and hypocrisy reign, Lily Bart, a charming young woman at the height of her worldly fame, suddenly discovers the instability of her position when her charm and beauty. Incites passion and jealousy. In search of a rich husband and willing to conform to the customs of her environment, Lily misses out on true love, played by the hapless Lawrence Selden…

Let’s say it without hesitation: in this film, directed by the late Terence Davies, nothing would envy its elegance and sophistication. A time of innocence The actor gives an absolutely extraordinary performance by Scorsese.

He is supported by an exceptional cast that includes Dan Aykroyd like you’ve never seen him before, the sensational Anthony LaPaglia, the wonderful Jodie May and the equally wonderful Eric Stoltz as Lawrence Selden. Love of Lily Bart.

Behind the gilded and ostentatious luxuries of a bitter and corseted little world, the story is really an authentic social murder, carrying an emotional charge that splits stones in two.

But the film was an absolute financial disaster, earning just over $5 million at the international box office. During his first weekend of work in the United States, Among the happiest people in the world raised only $48,770. read it right This shows the violence of the blow, which primarily had the force of an uppercut. The numerous nominations of the film at various awards did absolutely nothing to change this disaster.

“A rude awakening to the volatility of this industry”

In fact, the actor felt the failure of the film so painfully that he left his acting career immediately.

“I was thinking about it recently, going to the BAFTAs and the Golden Globes. All these artists who put everything into their work: blood, sweat, tears, money. Their families come second to this unique vision and then… he’s not. Nominated. I wish to reward effort” He trusted guardian.

Anderson himself has come under quite a bit of criticism for his performance in the film; And while it’s unclear exactly what criticism he’s referring to, he explains how it almost caused him to quit his career.

“A particularly terrible review of my play nearly forced me to quit acting. The combination of that and the awkward reception was a real eye-opener for me, a rude awakening to the vicissitudes of the industry.” He comments.

Judging by the low number of audience ratings (barely 61!) for this all-too-little-known film, there’s still a lot to be done to evangelize audiences. Among the happiest people in the world It was only released on DVD a long time ago and has never been released here on Blu-ray. If you’ve never seen this gem, you know what to do.