Anya Taylor-Joy is one of the most talented actresses of her generation. She has proven her ability to play a wide range of characters, from horror films to psychological thrillers. In our Hollywood Spotlight, you will learn how the Chess prodigy character in the Netflix series, “The Queen’s Gambit” rose to stardom.
Early Life
Anya Taylor-Joy was born in Miami, Florida, on April 23, 1996. She is the daughter of a Puerto Rican mother and an American father. Anya was always interested in the arts growing up, particularly acting and singing. She began taking acting classes at a young age and participated in local theater productions throughout her teenage years.
In 2014, Anya graduated high school and decided to pursue a career in acting. She moved to New York City to attend the prestigious Juilliard School, where she studied acting for four years. During her time at Juilliard, Anya met many aspiring actors, some of whom later became her close friends and collaborators.
Career after School
After graduating from Juilliard in 2018, Anya began auditioning for roles in New York City. In no time, she landed several small roles in independent films and TV shows which helped improve her experience and exposure. However, she made her massive hit in 2019 when she was made the lead role of Casey Cooke in the horror film “Split.” This film received lots of approval from movie critics and earned Anya the recognition she has always wanted.
Then, Anya Taylor-Joy began receiving offers for more high-profile roles. In 2020, she starred in the Netflix series “The Queen’s Gambit,” playing the lead role of Beth Harmon, a chess prodigy. The show was a massive hit, and Anya’s portrayal of Harmon earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Limited Series or Television Film.
In 2021, Anya starred in the psychological thriller “Nocturne,” playing a talented musician obsessed with her identical twin sister’s success. After the film’s premier at the Sundance Film Festival, and Anya’s performance got praise for her subtlety from critics.
Anya is part of the cast in the drama film “The French Dispatch” (2022) and has played several other films and series such as “Glass,” “Hedgehog”, “The Menu” and “I’m Thinking of Ending Things.” Besides her acting career, Anya is also a talented singer and musician. She has written and recorded several original songs and performed on stage.
Awards
Taylor-Joy has several awards and accolades, including the Empire Award for Best Newcomer. She got a nomination for the Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor in 2016. She also got another nomination for the BAFTA Rising Star Award and won the Trophée Chopard in 2017. Anya won the Golden Globe and Critic’s Choice Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film. The Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie or Miniseries in 2021 is another award she took home.
Recent work
Atlantis (2013), Peaky Blinders (2013-2022), Viking Quest (2014), Vampire Academy (2014), The Witch (2015), Split (2016), Morgan (2016), Thoroughbred (2017), The Miniaturist (2017), Love, Antosha (2019), Radioactive (2019), The Dark Crystal (2019), Glass (2019), Playmobil: The Movie (2019), Emma (2020), The Queen’s Gambit (2020), The New Mutants (2020), Here are the Young Men (2020), Cinderella: A Comic Relief for Christmas (2020), Old (2021), Last Night in Soho (2021), The Menu (2022), The Northman (2022), Amsterdam (2022), HBO: First Look (2022).
Anya is a face we love to see in TV movies, and she still has a lot more for us. You can stay updated on all her upcoming projects via her social media platforms.