"I'm Your Number One Fan"

         Adam Phillips, Empire Magazine - September, 1998

         It's a simple fact of movie life - without dedicated fans, the closest most
         actors would get to achieving stardom would be working behind the counter
         of their local McDonald's trying to fill in the merit stars on their name badges.

         While Hollywood may prefer to keep the fans outside the studio gates under
         the watchful eye of steriod-pumped security, the bottom line is that for all its
         cash and flash, Tinseltown needs the fans; whether it's the kind who holds
         down a nine-to-five job, has three kids and drives a Honda Civic - or the one
         whose bedroom is littered with enough memorabilia to suggest impending
         madness. Take Titanic. As the whole of the Western world now knows, it has
         taken over a billion dollars at the box office - its huge takings buoyed by
         gangs of gushing girls returning to the cinerna time and time again, hoping
         that the real reason why the boat sank was because the sea moved too
         much for Kate while she was being given lessons in lovemaking by Leo. In
         honour of the massive combined clout of fan power, Empire has hunted down
         the world's number one fans and profiled some of those who've left us
         speechless with their dedication, motivation and, well, determination ....
 

         GA Fan #1

         Name: Stacey Parnell

         Age: 28

         Occupation: Gillian Anderson lookalike, actress and
         tab assistant ("Yes, I wear a lab coat and latex gloves
         -just like Scully!")
 
 

         Location: Los Angeles

         Status: Dating a David Duchovny lookalike

         Time spent per week devoted to Gillian: Approximately 35 hours - reading
         and answering my 'Scully' mail, researching Gillian for performances as her,
         plus tracking down related events, mags and photos.

         Claims to fame: Actually looking like her at a Star Trek convention, I was
         mistaken for Gillian and was offered an escort to the greenroom. While there,
         and at the X-Files Expo, I must have signed at least 100 autographs! I have
         also done a short promo for re-runs of the X-Files in the US and three TV
         appearances as Scully (lookalike work).

         Most treasured item: I have a little 'fan club' of my own, which consists of
         about 40 guys from the UK who write to me.

         How did it all start? I was touring with an illusionist and the kids kept asking
         if I was Scully. Then other people started asking - a little girl at a car crash I
         assisted even Said, "Agent Scully help my mommy!"  I began watching the
         show and found Gillian to be brilliant in it ... the rest is history!

         Why her? My resemblance to Gillian was what originally drew me to her.
         Digging deeper, I found her not only to be very talented, but to share some
         interesting life experiences with me. I also admire her charity work and how
         she raises her daughter.

         Appeal of being a fan: Most of the kick comes from looking like her but I'm
         also fortunate to resemble a star that I like and respect very much ... I also
         have a certain responsibility not to do anything that portrays her Scully
         character in a bad way - I have been asked to portray Scully in a nude
         internet modelling thing. Something I would never do, not even as myself!

         Question for Gillian: This is not a slam on her - but I've read interviews
         where she has said, "I hate being superficial." I then turn the page and see
         Gillian pouting provocatively, with her breasts clearly taped and padded,
         spilling out of a bra. So, two questions - how does she feel about this
         necessary evil of female stardom? And, what message does she think it sends
         to her daughter?
 
 

         GA Fan #2

         We received hundreds of submissions from
         fans all over the world but no one made quite
         such an impression as the following letter did
         penned by Greek Gillian Anderson fan Jim
         Plavoukos. We present his passionate
         contribution here ....
 
 

         "Now really, you think that there is a true believer of Gill that would be
         capable of expressing feelings on a piece of paper?  Why I am so obsessed
         and how obsessed I am?  Well just that I am in Greece and that I am doing
         what ever I can to get magazines.  I even wanted to buy from England but
         my parents would hang me, but I did buy some.  I have searched all the news
         agencies in Greece for XF magazines, and I am still searching for Movie Idols.
           I have currently 1200 pics of Gill in my hard disk and her movies and others.
           It's hard to get a foreign mag here but I love her and I have been able to
         find'em.

         Now this could take pages and pages so I have sent her letters and letters
         but it wasn't till X-mas when I sent her a teddy bear named Piper begging for
         autograph - completely begging - and the Goddess sent me one (it's in a
         glass kind of thing) protected by everything from the outside world.  If I could
         send you a pic of my room of her shrine you would see.  I mean, hey, I have
         sent her a Love Letter, well she hasn't replied, this is how far I got.

         It's not about her endless legs or the model's body, if I wanted this I would
         look at a model.  No, it's the fact that two years before the new millennium
         it's good to have an exception in the rule.  Rule: no woman special.
         Exception: Gillian L. Anderson - the only woman to remind us of how they
         were.  I mean, look at those baby blue eyes and tell me are they PERFECT OR
         NOT?

         She is gorgeous, it's when you think that the perfection and the beauty could
         not be anything else but a summer wind just to feel it on your skin.  The
         perfection of Gillian is one of a kind; actress and one hell of a good one,
         mother good there too although scheduled and WOMANWOMANWOMAN real
         one.  Well I am sorry to end it.  I wish I could tell you my feelings but those
         are personal.  Every time I sleep when I watch her picture on my ceiling on
         the top of me when I sleep every night hoping that one day - hoping that I
         could just hold her - and then I could easily die.  Thanks for reading my mail.
         I hope Gillian fans could prove to everyone that this is a woman that's worth
         loving - yeah like they don't know it."

         Copyright 1998 Empire Magazine

 

 
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