GILLIAN Anderson and David Duchovny are closer now than when they first worked on 'The X Files'.

The pair recently reprised their roles as Dana Scully and Fox Mulder for a new six-part series of the sci-fi show and Gillian admitted they get on much better now than they ever did.

She said: "David and I are a lot closer today than we ever were while doing the series or the films. We're both a little older and have a little more perspective that comes from being parents and going through different struggles in our own lives.

"Now we see that it's easier to support each other and enjoy our friendship and the time we've been able to spend together."

While there have been repeated suggestions that the pair have a real-life romance, Gillian insisted they simply have great chemistry which translates well on screen.

She told The Sun on Sunday: "['X Files' creator] Chris Carter was very clever in casting us in that there's energy that exists just when David and I are standing in a room together.

"What was interesting is that the writers completely capitalised on that, and drew out that reality as long as they possibly could. Things got to the point where the tiniest touch of the hand in season five would make people freak out."