Hey
Award-winning actress in film and television
She won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for playing chess prodigy Beth Harmon in Netflix's The Queen's Gambit (2020).
Anya Taylor-Joy (born April 16, 1996 in Miami, Florida) is an Argentine-British-American actress standing 5'7" (170 cm) tall. She gained global recognition for her Golden Globe and SAG Award-winning performance as chess prodigy Beth Harmon in The Queen's Gambit (2020), following breakthrough roles in The Witch (2015), Split (2016), and Peaky Blinders. Her diverse filmography includes Emma (2020), Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024), and voicing Princess Peach in The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023).
Born in Miami to a Scottish-Argentine banker father and British-Spanish psychologist mother during a vacation, Taylor-Joy moved to Buenos Aires as an infant and lived there until age six, attending Northlands School and becoming fluent in Spanish. After relocating to London's Victoria area, she struggled with cultural identity, later recalling being locked in lockers at Queen's Gate School for being "too English to be Argentine, too Argentine to be English." She trained in ballet until age 15, left school at 16, and was discovered by modeling agent Sarah Doukas outside Harrods while walking her dog at age 17, launching her entertainment career.
Taylor-Joy married musician and actor Malcolm McRae on September 30, 2023 in Venice, Italy after dating since 2021. She is the youngest of six siblings, four from her father's previous marriage, and maintains strong connections to her multicultural heritage, speaking fluent Spanish and English. She holds citizenship in Argentina, the United Kingdom, and the United States due to her birth in Miami and family background.
She stands 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall with distinctive wide-set eyes that have become her signature feature.
Fluent in both Spanish and English, she refused to learn English after moving from Buenos Aires to London at age six, hoping her family would return to Argentina.
She learned to play chess for The Queen's Gambit and performed many of the complex chess moves herself on camera.
Born under the zodiac sign Aries on April 16, she shares her birthday with Charlie Chaplin.
She was discovered by modeling agent Sarah Doukas (who also discovered Kate Moss) while walking her dog outside Harrods department store.
Her likeness was licensed for the book covers of the Skulduggery Pleasant fantasy series, representing the character Valkyrie Cain.
I didn't really feel like I fit in anywhere. I was too English to be Argentine, too Argentine to be English, too American to be anything.
The thing that I love about acting is the fact that I can help people feel things, know themselves or feel less alone.
I think chess is a very humbling game. You can be the best player in the world, and you still have to respect the game.
Born on April 16 in Miami, Florida to Dennis Alan Taylor and Jennifer Marina Joy
Moved from Buenos Aires to London's Victoria area at age six
Left school at age 16 to pursue acting career
Discovered by modeling agent Sarah Doukas outside Harrods at age 17
Breakthrough role as Thomasin in The Witch, premiered at Sundance Film Festival
Won Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor and Empire Award for Best Female Newcomer
Starred opposite James McAvoy in M. Night Shyamalan's Split, which grossed $278.5 million
Portrayed Gina Gray in Peaky Blinders fifth season
Starred as Emma Woodhouse in period drama Emma
Portrayed Beth Harmon in The Queen's Gambit, Netflix's most-watched limited series
Won Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries for The Queen's Gambit
Won Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries
Starred in The Northman and the black comedy The Menu
Voiced Princess Peach in The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Married musician Malcolm McRae on September 30 in Venice, Italy
Starred as Imperator Furiosa in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga