The actress announced a surprising new role in fashion, wearing a little black dress with a flattering silhouette upgrade for 2026
One thing that wasn’t on our Tuesday bingo card was waking up to the news that film star Gillian Anderson has taken on a surprising new role in fashion. The talented American actress, 57, who made her name in shows from sci-fi favourite The X Files to Sex Education, is pivoting away from the camera for her latest project with a brand we all know well.
M&S announced Gillian as its first-ever Chief Compliment Officer (CCO), a new role created as part of the brand’s latest campaign celebrating the power of compliments and the joy of fashion – and one that Gillian says is very important.
“A simple compliment can genuinely boost confidence and change how someone feels all day, so as Chief Compliments Officer, I’m here to help make those moments more commonplace,” she says. “Having spent my career playing women in positions of power, complexity and contradiction, I’ve become very deliberate about how I dress, so when someone pays me a compliment, it means a lot.”
We expect to see her compliments rolling in thick and fast, as the star announced her new position alongside a glamorous snap of her perched on a desk. In fact, the whole set-up and outfit closely resemble those Meghan Markle wore for Suits. However, you don’t need a lawyer’s budget to copy Gillian’s look, because her dress costs just £36.
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Wearing M&S’ Jersey Midi Bodycon Dress, which has just landed on shelves, Gillian proves that a little black dress is still your best accessory. But gone are the days when you need to show as much leg as possible; 2026’s updated silhouette is all about flattering your form, not showing off skin. The dress’s jersey stretch material means it moulds to your shape beautifully, and the thickness of the fabric means it does it without showing lumps and bumps.
These styles of jersey dresses are set to be popular once again this spring/summer, with brands like M&S and Skims (with its hugely popular Soft Lounge Maxi dress, £96) leading the way.
This appointment comes as new research reveals that 62% of people feel instantly happier when they receive a compliment, showing that a little act of kindness goes a long way – yet 8% say they never receive one at all. So when you see a friend or a colleague wearing their new M&S dress, don’t forget to tell them how great they look!
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