Fans of The X-Files got a nostalgic treat at the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards when David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson took the stage together. The former co-stars reunited on Sunday, February 23, to present the award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series—and their signature chemistry was on full display.
A Playful Exchange
Duchovny, 64, kicked things off with a joke:
“Ensemble, I believe that’s a French word that means, ‘Thank God, I only have to work three days a week.’”
He then turned to Anderson, 56, and began to compliment her, saying:
“Nice to see you, Gillian. You look …”
Anderson didn’t miss a beat, finishing his sentence with a playful dig:
“Younger than you last saw me when we shot 218 episodes?”
Duchovny simply nodded and admitted, “Yes, that’s exactly right.”
The two then debated what makes a great drama, with Duchovny confidently declaring, “It is … timing.” Anderson, however, had a different answer: “Chemistry.”
Without hesitation, she grinned and added, “We still got it.”
After their banter, the pair handed the SAG Award to the cast of Shōgun, which had already won multiple trophies that night.
Duchovny Teased the Reunion Before the Show
Ahead of the event, Duchovny hinted at what it would be like to share the stage with Anderson again.
“We’re going to present an award. It feels good, [but] I’d rather get an award than present one, but it’s nice,” he told TooFab on February 22. “I’m sure there will be more chatter after Sunday.”
A Legendary On-Screen Partnership
The X-Files originally aired from 1993 to 2002
During the show’s 11-season run, Duchovny and Anderson received six individual SAG nominations, with Anderson winning for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series in 1996 and 1997.
A Complicated Friendship Behind the Scenes
While their on-screen chemistry was undeniable, Duchovny and Anderson have been candid about the ups and downs of their real-life friendship.
On an episode of Duchovny’s “Fail Better” podcast in November 2024, he reflected on their working relationship:
“We know each other deeply, and yet, in some weird way, we don’t know each other at all.”
He admitted that during much of The X-Files, they weren’t even on speaking terms off-camera:
“There was a long time where we were just not even dealing with one another. And there was a lot of tension. But it didn’t matter for the work—because we’re both f—ing crazy, I guess.”
Anderson agreed, sharing that their dynamic was “crazy” in retrospect:
“It’s wild that we could portray all these emotions on camera and then go weeks without speaking to each other between takes.”
Despite past tensions, the two actors have maintained mutual respect—and their SAG Awards reunion proved that their iconic chemistry is still very much alive.