Anya Taylor-Joy, born on April 16, 1996, in Miami, Florida, is a British-American actress celebrated for her versatile performances in film and television.
Growing up in a multicultural family, she spent her early years in both Argentina and the UK.
Her career began in modeling, but she quickly transitioned into acting, achieving critical acclaim for her breakout role as Thomasin in the horror film The Witch (2015).
Following her success in The Witch, Taylor-Joy gained further recognition with her roles in Split (2016) and Glass (2019).
In addition to her acclaimed television work, Anya Taylor-Joy has starred in several notable films such as Emma (2020), Last Night in Soho (2021), and The Northman (2022).
Parents
Anya was born to parents Jennifer Marina Joy-Marancho and Dennis Taylor.
Her father, Dennis, is of Scottish-Argentinian descent and worked as a banker, while her mother, Jennifer, is a psychologist with Spanish-English heritage.
Anya is the youngest of six siblings, with four of her siblings from her father’s previous marriage..
The family initially lived in Buenos Aires until Anya was six years old, when they moved to London.
The transition to England was challenging for Anya; she initially refused to learn English and felt disconnected from her new environment.
In interviews, she has described this move as “traumatic,” but later recognized the opportunities it provided.
Her parents treated her like an adult from a young age, which Anya credits for her resilience and independence.
Career
Taylor-Joy began her acting career after leaving school at 16, quickly gaining recognition for her talent.
Her breakthrough role came in the horror film The Witch (2015), directed by Robert Eggers, which showcased her potential and earned her critical acclaim.
Following this, she starred in Split (2016) and its sequel Glass (2019), both directed by M. Night Shyamalan, where she played Casey Cooke, a character who becomes entangled with a man suffering from multiple personalities.
Taylor-Joy also appeared in films like Thoroughbreds (2017) and Emma (2020), the latter earning her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
Her most significant role to date has been as Beth Harmon in the Netflix miniseries The Queen’s Gambit (2020).
This performance not only won her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Limited Series but also garnered widespread acclaim, leading to a surge in chess interest worldwide.
The series reached a record of 62 million households within 28 days of its release.
In addition to her Golden Globe win, Taylor-Joy has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including a BAFTA Rising Star Award nomination and multiple Screen Actors Guild nominations.
In recent years, she has continued to expand her filmography with roles in Last Night in Soho (2021), The Northman (2022), and The Menu (2022).
She also voiced Princess Peach in the animated film The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) and starred as Imperator Furiosa in the upcoming Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024).
