Gillian Anderson asks fans not to sit in the front row during her stage show in London

(CNN) - Gillian Anderson joined the list of Hollywood stars who criticized the behavior of some theatergoers. A video clip posted on social media showed the actress asking female fans not to distract her due to their frequent sitting in the front row during a performance of her play in the West End of London.

As Anderson signed memorabilia for fans outside Soho Place, where she stars in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf alongside Billy Crudup? “You can't sit in the front row,” she was heard telling a group of women.

Fans - who were off camera - can be heard apologizing to the "X-Files" star.

One of the women then told Anderson that her portrayal of “Martha,” a frustrated 1960s-era wife, had made them “cry so hard.”

But Anderson responded firmly, saying, "I don't care; you can't sit in the front row. It's too distracting." The actress-turned-writer and activist appeared to laugh a little as she addressed the women, saying, "You can't come 20 times and sit in the front row; that would drive me crazy."

The video clip sparked mixed reactions on social media. Some supported Anderson's request and considered it logical for an artist performing in a theatrical performance, while others described her as disguising herself to support her fans.

Anderson responded by publishing a statement on social media to clarify her position, and the 58-year-old actress began her speech by saying: “The circulating video clip shows me talking to women with whom I have had a relationship that extends for more than 20 years, so I hope you do not say anything negative to them or about them.”

Pointing to the auditorium, which has a capacity of more than 600 seats, she added: “We are very happy to present this show, but for the people in the front row, please be aware that we see you all in this close place, and sometimes your presence there may be a little distracting,” and she concluded her message by saying: “That’s all. Everything is fine. Let’s continue the show, with my sincere love to everyone and my thanks to everyone who will attend.”

Anderson is the latest to join a long list of prominent artists who have complained about the behavior of theater audiences.

Last September, Actress Cate Blanchett paused to ask the audience in London not to film during a performance of "Elektra/Persona."

“There are few places on the planet right now where we can simply be together and live in the moment with our full presence,” Blanchett said.

She added: "I ask anyone who films the show to stop doing so, because filming spoils the experience for the next group of attendees who will come to watch the show and share the moment with us."

In April; "Wicked" star Cynthia Erivo stopped a performance of her solo play based on Bram Stoker's novel "Dracula" at the Noel Coward Theater in London, where she was playing all 23 roles, after she noticed an audience member apparently filming the show from his seat.

And in the following month; Actress Rosamund Pike, the heroine of the movie “Gone Girl,” took advantage of the audience’s moment of greeting at the conclusion of the show to rebuke an audience member whose identity was not revealed. She noticed that he was sending text messages on his phone during the poignant final scene of her play “Inter Alia” at the Wyndhams Theater in London.