'I want to believe — in the everlasting powers of Agent Scully'
1993. Somewhere In The Maritimes, 10:13 p.m.
My 11-year-old self sits on the family couch, terrified by the possibility of extraterrestrials among us, transfixed by the fierce focus of Agent Dana Scully.
She wants to believe … and I want to believe that one day I will grow up to be just like her — a smart, confident woman who excels at her career, solves puzzles like no one’s business, and has a smokin’ hot partner in crime.
Fast forward 23 years (oh god, 23 years? How did that happen?) and I like to think I have some of her traits. I work in a field that fits in with my training. I solve interesting puzzles every day, thanks to my challenging job at Concordia.
And I am blessed with a smokin’ hot partner in crime — though I resolved that sexual tension by marrying the guy. Oh, and I, too, know how to rock a pantsuit.
With the return of The X-Files to network television scheduled for this Sunday, I am atwitter with anticipation (literally — I can’t stop tweeting out my excitement to other X-Philes!), and can’t wait to catch up with my old pals, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully (and Skinner and Cancer Man, of course).
I’m also looking forward to seeing how Gillian Anderson herself has evolved, and how Agent Scully will evolve too.
Now that it’s 2016, what does the special agent do, think, want … wear? How have the 2000s treated her? Is she backing Hillary or Bernie? (Hillary, right?)
I’m interested because she’s an interesting character. Because Gillian Anderson is an interesting actress. And because it’s a rare treat to get to watch a woman transform onscreen, not just thanks to makeup but to years of career-building and life-living.
Twenty-four-year-old-Scully was something of an action hero to my 11-year-old self. Kicking butt, solving crime and trusting no one.
Now that I’m in my 30s, I have a new version of that role model to look up to. I am so excited to meet her this Sunday night!
Looking for a female role model? Read about five of Concordia's visionary researchers.