David Duchovny has reduced his X-Files appearances

She also said she was to join the growing ranks of American actresses to appear on the West End stage.

The star said she had agreed to appear on the London stage but would reveal no details of the role or the production.

"It feels good. It's time," she said of her decision to quit the hit TV show.

Household names

Her co-star David Duchovny has already reduced his appearances in the series as he concentrates on a movie career.

Duchovny and Anderson became household names around the world when the X-Files launched in 1993.

The two-stars played FBI agents ordered to investigate the paranormal with Duchovny playing the role of believer Fox Mulder and Anderson as the sceptic Dana Scully.

Anderson is now keen to move away from the role which made her famous.

"The stuff I am going to do is as far from Scully as humanly possible.

'Hard time'

"Having been Scully for such a long time, I have to prove myself in other roles."

Anderson said that filming the X-Files had reduced the amount of time she could be with her daughter.

"For the first seven series it was very difficult. She spent a lot of time on set.

"She had a really hard time."

Last year she starred appeared in Terence Davies' film The House of Mirth, for which she was praised.

Anderson said she expected to appear in the West End next year.