No to bras, yes to sexual desires. Gillian Anderson certainly knows how to make a statement.
No to bras, yes to sexual desires. Gillian Anderson certainly knows how to make a statement.
The Golden Globe winner who plays Jean Milburn, a sex therapist in the Netflix series "Sex Education," in an Instagram video earlier this month revealed that she was "launching a major exploration of women and sex. " She went on to say she would love to hear from women (yes, you, sister!) about their "most personal desires, " throwing her net out for a very wide catch here.
She says, "Whether you're 18 or 80, you sleep with men, women or non-binary individuals or all or no one at all .... I want to know your most personal desires.''
"Sex is about more than just sex," she said. At least to her (and to some of us), it's not just sex, but everything else in between. It's the things women never talk about and the things they wish they could be told. Gillian wants to unlock your secret desires and is offering the key to do so.
This is a major Dr. Jean Milburn move but without the chair and the office, so no pressure here. Think positive thoughts! (Say this in your best therapist voice.)
Gillian is offering a safe space where women can express sexual desires they never dared to confide in anyone. Anything previously hidden will now be out in the open, not for women to be ashamed of but for us to speak with a newfound boldness.
All you have to do, she says, is write her an anonymous letter beginning with the words "Dear Gillian" in any language from all corners of the world. In the hopes of curating something "revelatory and profound, and inclusive across the board."
So why does Gillian Anderson want you to send her your kinks?
She admitted in an interview that the inspiration for this idea came from her role as a sex therapist in the Netflix series. When asked if people had begun to confide in her about their sexual fantasies due to her role in the series, she said that it was precisely because they had not done so that she chose to carry out this project. A "My Secret Garden for the 21st Century " was how she described it, alluding to the 1973 compilation of women's sexual fantasies by Nancy Friday.
The actress is a published author, and with her "experience" from her time on the Netflix series, this seems right up her alley. She has also expressed interest in women-centered issues in her self-help book “WE: A Manifesto For Women Everywhere.” So if the two other reasons don't convince you, this might.
We can't wait to see what letters she will choose to include in her book and how she will weave each experience to create something new and hopefully relatable.
All in all, this isn't such a bad idea. An opportunity to pitch your best sexual self and some well-deserved anonymity. What more could your sexual desires hope for?
So, will Gillian be receiving your letter?