Gillian Anderson says she was ‘profoundly affected’ by her new film about homelessness as she covers Big Issue with co-star Jason Isaacs

Gillian Anderson says she was ‘profoundly affected’ by a homelessness memoir that inspired her new film, The Salt Path. 

The American actress, 56, stars in the movie adaption of the novel, which was written by Raynor Winn.

It follows the author and her husband, Moth (Jason Isaacs) as they lose their home and embark on a long-distance walk with only a few pennies in their pockets.

Discussing the new project, Gillian sat down with Big Issue – a magazine which offers  homeless people the opportunity to earn a legitimate income through selling the editions. 

‘I first discovered The Salt Path probably about a year and a half or two before they went into prep,’ Gillian shared.

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Gillian Anderson said she was ‘profoundly affected’ by her new film about homelessness as she covered Big Issue magazine with co-star Jason Isaacs 

The American actress, 56, stars in the film adaption of the novel, which was written by Raynor Winn (pictured earlier this month) 

She went on: ‘I bought Ray’s audiobook and was profoundly affected by it. I was then trying to find out about the rights.’ 

The X-Files star plays Winn in the new film while Harry Potter actor Jason stars as her husband.

She added: ‘I knew Lloyd Levin, one of the producers, when I used to live in LA.

‘I reached out after I found out that he had the rights. It had been a few years, did he think it was actually going to happen?

‘If he didn’t, could I take over the rights or do it with them? He said, “We are making this,” then they came to me for Ray.’

Meanwhile Jason told the magazine: ‘It shocked me how quickly and easily they became homeless. One moment they were sure that they were going to keep their home, then they’re sitting in court and suddenly there is a date, a ticking clock.’

After losing their home, the couple completed the 1,000km South West Coast Path, which follows the coastline of Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, and Dorset.

As well as delving into the issue of homelessness, the book and film explore Moth’s diagnosis of corticobasal degeneration (CBD).

It is a rare condition that can cause gradually worsening problems with movement, speech, memory and swallowing, according to the NHS website. 

The X-Files star plays Winn in the new film while Harry Potter actor Jason stars as her husband

It follows the author Raynor Winn (left) and her husband, Moth, as they lose their home and embark on a long-distance walk with only a few pennies in their pockets (pictured with Gillian Anderson)

Raynor detailed their mammoth, 630-mile hike in her book, describing the trek – which stretches from Minehead to Poole. 

And the movie is also sure to showcase some of the UK’s most spectacular nature, as the South West Coast Path features breathtaking coves, rugged cliffs and stunning beaches.

Raynor and Moth made their living hosting tourists, but a bad investment meant that suddenly they lost everything in their 50s.

They were given less than a week to leave, the only positive being that their two children were away at university.

Just when it seemed things couldn’t get any worse, they did.

The Salt Path was published in March 2018 and became a Sunday Times bestseller.

The film will be released on May 30.

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