Anya Taylor-Joy

Anya Taylor-Joy was born in Miami, Florida, on April 16, 1996, and was raised primarily in London and Buenos Aires. She initially pursued a career in ballet and modeling before being discovered by a talent scout at the age of 16. Her acting debut came in 2014 with a minor role in the horror series "Endeavour." Her breakthrough arrived just one year later with her leading performance as Thomasin in Robert Eggers’s critically acclaimed horror film "The Witch" (2015), which established her as a compelling screen presence with a distinctive intensity.

Taylor-Joy's career is distinguished by her collaborations with prominent auteurs and her choice of challenging, often genre-bending roles. Following "The Witch," she solidified her status in independent cinema with films like M. Night Shyamalan’s "Split" (2016) and its sequel "Glass" (2019). Her most significant contribution to date is her portrayal of Beth Harmon in the 2020 Netflix limited series "The Queen's Gambit." The series became a global cultural phenomenon, and her performance, depicting a prodigious but troubled chess champion, earned her a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award, among other accolades. Other notable film credits include "The Northman" (2022), "The Menu" (2022), and "Last Night in Soho" (2021).

Anya Taylor-Joy has had a notable impact on the entertainment industry by demonstrating the commercial and critical viability of female-led, character-driven stories. "The Queen's Gambit" not only popularized chess worldwide but also proved the immense power of limited series formats on streaming platforms. Her success has helped challenge typecasting, as she seamlessly transitions between high-concept horror, period dramas, and dark comedies. She is recognized for bringing a unique, ethereal quality and a deep psychological commitment to her characters, influencing a new generation of actors and expanding the range of roles considered viable for young performers.

Following the massive success of "The Queen's Gambit," Taylor-Joy has maintained a prolific output. She starred as Princess Peach in the blockbuster film "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" (2023) and played the titular role in the action film "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" (2024), a highly anticipated prequel to "Mad Max: Fury Road." She continues to be a sought-after talent, with future projects likely to include a mix of major studio films and auteur-driven independent work, cementing her position as one of the most versatile and prominent actresses of her generation.

Anya Taylor-Joy is an actress of British and American nationality, born in Miami in 1996. Her unique path to acting was unexpected; she was initially pursuing a career in ballet before being discovered by a modeling scout while walking her dog in London. This chance encounter led her to an agency, which soon steered her toward auditions for film roles. She quickly landed her breakthrough part at the age of eighteen, demonstrating a natural aptitude for the screen. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Taylor-Joy brings a distinctive intensity and an almost otherworldly screen presence to her work, making her one of the most distinctive and sought-after actors of her generation.

Taylor-Joy matters because she represents a new kind of star—one defined by bold creative choices and a powerful, quiet intensity rather than traditional Hollywood formulas. She has become a symbol for intelligent, character-driven storytelling, often choosing roles in independent films and genre pieces that challenge both her and the audience. Her casting as the lead in "The Queen's Gambit" helped transform a story about chess into a global phenomenon about genius, addiction, and female empowerment, proving that complex narratives can achieve massive mainstream success. She inspires a new generation of actors and filmmakers to prioritize artistic integrity and has helped elevate genre films like horror to new levels of critical acclaim.

Anya Taylor-Joy is most widely known for her starring role as Beth Harmon in the Netflix limited series "The Queen's Gambit." The role earned her a Golden Globe and widespread international fame, cementing her status as a leading actress. However, her career was built on a series of striking performances in horror and thriller films. She first gained significant attention as Thomasin in the chilling period horror "The Witch" (2015). She further showcased her range in M. Night Shyamalan's "Split" (2016) and its sequel "Glass" (2019), and as a fierce warrior in the action film "The New Mutants" (2020). More recently, she captivated audiences with dual roles in Robert Eggers' epic "The Northman" (2022) and as the title character in the turbo-charged "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" (2024).