Two years ago, Gillian Anderson made an unprecedented request: she asked women to send her their sexual fantasies, anonymously, for a book she would later publish. The response was overwhelming – thousands of women, from all over the world, shared their most intimate fantasies. The result was Want, an internationally bestselling book that ignited a global conversation about female sexuality, and as the title suggests, what women really want.
Now, Anderson is once again calling for more stories. This time, she wants to open the floodgates even wider. With the release of a new project, Anderson is asking women around the world to anonymously share their sexual fantasies once again. Yes, that’s you. It’s me. It’s all of us.
Submissions for the follow-up book are open from April 24 to May 23, 2025, and the actor and activist hopes to gather even more voices, reaching further across cultural and societal boundaries.
“Two years ago, I asked you to write to me anonymously with your sexual fantasies for a book we would publish as Want,” Anderson said in a statement. “I was blown away by the response. Thousands of women wrote to me with honesty, humour, and vulnerability, and it has been an honor to champion their voices. The response to Want was everything I could have hoped for and more.”
Want was revolutionary. It gave women a platform to discuss their sexuality openly, without the typical constraints of shame or silence. For many, it was their first time speaking candidly about their desires.
But Anderson is not done. Far from it. “I want to hear it all,” she said. “Whether you’re the Queen of Kink or have never been kissed, whether you’ve read Want or are just hearing about it now, I want to hear your favourite fantasies. And this time, I want to hear it all.”
From Taboo to Truth
As society continues to grapple with shifting attitudes toward sex, gender, and intimacy, the need for spaces where women can explore their sexuality without fear or shame is more pressing than ever. And Anderson’s project, which is rooted in vulnerability and acceptance, provides a rare opportunity to dive deeper into a realm that has historically been taboo for women: their sexual desires.
“This book isn’t just about fantasies,” Anderson explained. “It’s about unlocking the freedom to talk openly about sex and pleasure. It’s about creating a space where women can feel heard, seen, and validated in their experiences – whether those experiences are conventional or unconventional.”
The stories shared in Want ranged from the playful to the profound, from the humorous to the deeply intimate. What united them was their raw honesty and a desire to express something that had often been kept locked away. Anderson, herself a globally recognised activist for gender equality, believes this process not only empowers women but also opens up new avenues for understanding our collective desires and experiences.
“What Want showed us is that these conversations can be safe, and they can be healing,” she says. “It wasn’t just a book – it was a movement. Women began to see themselves reflected in the words of others, to see that their fantasies, no matter how unique, were not isolated or shameful.”
A Global Call for Inclusion
Alexis Kirschbaum, Head of Bloomsbury Trade, which will publish the new collection, explained, “We’re doing this again to give even more women the opportunity to take part. The first project was an immense and inspiring undertaking, and now we’re ready to see what the next book reveals.”
For many, the first call-out was a transformative experience. Some women had never before thought about their sexual desires in such explicit terms, while others had long been in touch with their fantasies but never felt they could share them. Anderson’s project gave them not only the language but also the safety to express themselves freely.
“Maybe you didn’t trust that it would be safe,” Anderson reflected. “But now, having started this conversation, we’ve discovered that the water is warm and inviting. It’s time to open the door even wider.”
The Safety of Anonymity
One of the key components of the project has been the promise of anonymity. Women can submit their fantasies to Anderson without fear of judgment or exposure, a crucial aspect in a world where female sexuality is still often viewed through a lens of scrutiny and shame.
“Write to me,” Anderson says, “starting your letter ‘Dear Gillian.’ No one will ever know it was you.”
The Future of Desire
What began as a daring and deeply personal project has since sparked a global movement, and as Anderson prepares for the next phase, it’s clear that Want is more than just a book. It’s an ongoing conversation – one that challenges the way we think about sex, shame, and the role women play in their own pleasure.
“We’ve only just begun,” Anderson said. “This is about unlocking the full spectrum of desires and embracing them without fear. This next book will be an even bigger step in that direction.”
Whether you’ve read Want or not, Anderson’s invitation is simple: share your truth, be heard, and join the ongoing conversation about what women truly want.
(As part of this publishing process, Gillian Anderson pledged a sum of £500 for each letter that is published in the book, to be split equally between Women for Women International (womenforwomen.org.uk) and War Child (www.warchild.org.uk) . Bloomsbury contributed the sum of £50,000 to Women for Women International. Bloomsbury and Gillian Anderson commit to the same contributions respectively for this second collection of fantasies.
For more details on how to submit your fantasy, visit www.deargillian.com. Submissions close on May 23, 2025.
