Anya Taylor-Joy
Actress, Model
Biography
Anya-Josephine Marie Taylor-Joy is an American-born British-Argentine actress who has quickly risen to become one of Hollywood's most sought-after young stars. Known for her distinctive features, intense performances, and ability to portray complex characters, Taylor-Joy gained international fame through her breakthrough role in The Witch (2015) and later became a household name with her starring performance in Netflix's The Queen's Gambit (2020), for which she won a Golden Globe Award. She has since starred in major films including Split, Emma., The Menu, and the upcoming Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, establishing herself as a versatile actress capable of excelling in horror, period dramas, and psychological thrillers.
Early Life
Anya-Josephine Marie Taylor-Joy was born on April 16, 1996, in Miami, Florida, while her parents were on vacation. She is the youngest of six siblings. Her father, Dennis Alan Taylor, is Scottish-Argentinian and a former banker who also won two UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique) world offshore championships as a powerboat racer in the 1980s. Her mother, Jennifer Marina Joy, is a psychologist of Spanish-English descent who was born and grew up in Zambia. Anya holds American, British, and Argentinian citizenship. She spent her early years in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where Spanish was her first language. At age 6, her family moved to London due to political unrest in Argentina. Initially refusing to speak English for two years in hopes of returning to Argentina, she eventually learned the language by reading the Harry Potter series. During her schooling at Hill House in Knightsbridge and Queen's Gate School in South Kensington, Taylor-Joy trained as a ballet dancer. She has described herself as "very insecure and deeply unhappy" during this time, struggling with body image issues. She dropped out of school at age 16 to pursue acting, though she briefly worked as a model for Storm Management.
Career
Anya Taylor-Joy's acting career began with small roles, including an uncredited appearance in Vampire Academy (2014) and a one-episode role in the British TV series Endeavour. Her first major professional audition was for the Disney film Maleficent, where she hoped to play a younger version of Angelina Jolie's character but was rejected. Her breakthrough came in 2015 when she was cast as Thomasin in the horror film The Witch, choosing this role over a Disney Channel pilot. Despite initial self-doubt about her performance, the film was both a critical and commercial success, grossing $40 million worldwide against a $4 million budget. She gained wider recognition in 2016 for her role in M. Night Shyamalan's Split, appearing alongside James McAvoy. Taylor-Joy continued to build her filmography with diverse roles, including starring as the title character in the period drama Emma. (2020) and starring in the hit Netflix miniseries The Queen's Gambit (2020), which earned her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Limited Series or Television Movie. She has since appeared in major films like The Menu (2022), Northman (2022), and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024). Taylor-Joy has received three Golden Globe nominations (winning one), one Emmy nomination, and has become known for her ability to portray complex, intelligent, and often intense female characters across various genres.
Personal Life
Anya Taylor-Joy is known for keeping her personal life relatively private. She married musician Malcolm McRae in 2023. Growing up in a multicultural household with parents from different backgrounds and having lived in multiple countries, Taylor-Joy has embraced her diverse heritage. She has spoken openly about her struggles with insecurity and body image during her teenage years, though she has grown more confident in her adult life. Despite her rapid rise to fame, she maintains a down-to-earth demeanor and has been praised for her authenticity and self-awareness in interviews. Taylor-Joy is multilingual, speaking Spanish, English, and French, which reflects her international upbringing and diverse cultural background.
Fun Facts
She was born in Miami while her parents were on vacation, giving her American citizenship | She is trilingual: Spanish, English, and French | She refused to speak English for two after moving to London at age 6, hoping her parents would take her back to Argentina | She learned English by reading the Harry Potter series | She was scouted as a model while walking her dog in London | Her first professional audition was to play a young Angelina Jolie in Maleficent | She chose The Witch over a Disney Channel pilot for her breakthrough role | She trained as a ballet dancer throughout her childhood and teenage years | She has described herself as "very insecure and deeply unhappy" during her school years | She is the youngest of six siblings | Her father was a world champion powerboat racer | She won a Golden Globe Award for The Queen's Gambit | She has been compared to classic Hollywood stars for her distinctive features and presence | She appeared in M. Night Shyamalan's Split at age 19 | She dropped out of school at age 16 to pursue acting | She has appeared in both period dramas and horror films, showcasing her versatility | She starred in the hit Netflix series The Queen's Gambit which became a cultural phenomenon | She has expressed admiration for strong female characters in film and television | She married musician Malcolm McRae in 2023 | She has appeared on magazine covers including Vogue and W | She is known for her distinctive fashion sense on red carpets | She has been called "the face of a new generation of actresses" | She continues to take on challenging and diverse roles in her career | She has a large social media following and is active on Instagram | She is known for her candid and humorous interviews | She has worked with renowned directors including Robert Eggers, M. Night Shyamalan, and Armando Iannucci | She is considered one of the most promising young actresses of her generation.