It Could Have Been Pamela Anderson
When casting began for the series, network executives weren’t sure what exactly would make the show a success. But one thing most executives could agree on is: Sex sells. And who was the sex icon of the ‘90s? Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson, of course. So, in an effort to draw in viewers, Anderson was proposed for the role of Scully.
Pamela Anderson in the series “Baywatch” 1989. Photo by Moviestore/Shutterstock
“They were looking for someone, bustier, taller, leggier than me,” Gillian Anderson said in 2008. Pamela was “more familiar to them in terms of what was on TV at the time.” The showrunner, Chris Carter, ultimately went with Gillian. She was one lucky lady because at first, as Gillian explained, “nobody trusted that I could do anything. I had nobody of work behind me at all.”