David Duchovny Says ‘You’re on the Right Track If You Feel Like a Failure’—Here’s Why (Exclusive)
'The X Files' star and ‘Secrets Declassified’ host shares his surprising perspective
Key Takeaways
- David Duchovny hosts 'Secrets Declassified with David Duchovny' on The History Channel.
- The actor spoke to 'Woman's World' about the series, his podcast and failure.
- In addition to acting, David Duchovny is a musician and a writer.
The truth is out there…and David Duchovny is after it. You might know the 65-year-old actor for his role as Fox Mulder on the hit sci-fi series The X-Files, where he starred expertly opposite Gillian Anderson as they pursued the unexplainable, the paranormal and the extraterrestrial. While it’s been years since he brought to life the famed FBI agent, the actor is dipping his toes back into the world of covert cases and government secrets as he hosts Secrets Declassified with David Duchovny on The History Channel. With Season 2 underway and new episodes airing Tuesdays, the actor, musician and poet opened up to Woman’s World about his current projects, failure and taking risks.
David Duchovny dishes on ‘Secrets Declassified’
In the current season of Secrets Declassified with David Duchovny, which premiered on March 17, the actor leads the way as host, as historians and experts unravel some of the government’s most discreet exploits, missions and instruments with the help of uncovered evidence. While Fox Mulder was something of a conspiracy theorist, the same can’t be said for Duchovny—yet a series that unraveled the unknown still pulled him in.
“This is truth. These are things that happened that were covered up for whatever reason. Part of what governments do is supposed to be covered up. They’re trying to get an advantage on other governments, so they keep certain things a secret, and it’s interesting to see. For me, it always boils down to what’s human in these things, because these are possibly world-changing events that didn’t happen,” he shared with Woman’s World.
David Duchovny on ‘Secrets Declassified’ and ‘The X Files’ connection
Considering the subject matter of Secrets Declassified and the idea of uncovering the unknown, many fans are drawn to the show as they feel it reminisces on the things they loved so much about The X-Files, and while the actor has nothing but love for Mulder, there’s something different about his HISTORY Channel gig that makes it so special.
“I love the show, and I love playing the character, and I couldn’t be prouder of it, but it wasn’t my particular worldview,” he said of the hit sci-fi series. “Obviously, I can see the connection, and I think that’s probably a selling point of the show [Secrets Declassified], but it’s not necessarily something that I lean into.” Instead, Duchovny enjoys the factual element of the series, and sharing the truth behind these seemingly mysterious tales has been a refreshing new journey for him.
David Duchovny talks about his podcast and redefining failure
Fail Better With David Duchvony unpacks the one thing everyone has experienced: failure. On his podcast, he sits down with a wide range of talented, successful guests and unpacks their greatest setbacks—redefining what failure really means in the process.
“I never really learned anything from winning. I only learned from when things didn’t work out,” he shared. “I found that people, ‘winners, successful people,’ whatever, were very happy to talk about their—imposter syndrome is an obvious thing—but just that they only ever learned from failure. That was really the only way to ever learn.”
The actor wears many hats
The Californication star has a wide range of talents and interests. The Golden Globe Award-winning actor has a resume filled with diverse roles across various genres. He also happens to be a successful musician and to top it all off, he even released a book of poetry, About Time, last year. There’s something to be said about taking creative risks and putting yourself out there, unsure of how your efforts will be received, but Duchovny shares the key, and it ties back to the message of his podcast.
“Embrace failure. You’re on the right track if you feel like a failure. If you feel like a winner, you might be on the wrong track.” He continued, “Your entire life is going to be full of a little discomfort as a creative person. That’s the price you pay. You don’t get to hang up your hat at 5, go home and just live your life. You’re constantly in this 24-hour-a-day cycle of creation, and you’re going to be uncomfortable and you’re going to feel like a failure, so shake hands with it.”
Catch David Duchovny Tuesday evenings at 10 p.m. in Secrets Declassified with David Duchovny on The History Channel.
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