Anya Taylor-Joy is a British-Argentine actress born April 16, 1996, in Miami, Florida, who achieved international recognition through her breakthrough role as Thomasin in “The Witch” (2015). She later earned widespread acclaim and a Golden Globe Award for portraying chess prodigy Beth Harmon in Netflix’s “The Queen’s Gambit” (2020). Her diverse filmography includes “Emma,” “Split,” “Last Night in Soho,” and recent projects like “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.” Her career trajectory reveals additional compelling details about her artistic evolution.
A rising talent in contemporary cinema, Anya Taylor-Joy has emerged as one of the most intriguing actresses of her generation, enchanting audiences through her distinctive performances across horror, drama, and period pieces since her professional debut in 2014. Born April 16, 1996, in Miami, Florida, to British and Argentine parents, Taylor-Joy spent her formative years between Buenos Aires and London, developing a multicultural perspective that would later inform her versatile acting approach.
The youngest of six siblings, Taylor-Joy initially pursued ballet during her youth before shifting to modeling and acting, ultimately leaving school at sixteen to focus on her entertainment career. Her first significant audition came for “Maleficent” in 2014, followed by an uncredited role in “Vampire Academy” the same year, marking her entry into professional filmmaking.
Taylor-Joy’s breakthrough arrived with her starring role as Thomasin in the critically acclaimed horror film “The Witch” in 2015, establishing her reputation for compelling performances in psychologically complex narratives. This success led to prominent roles in M. Night Shyamalan’s thriller “Split” (2016) and its sequel “Glass” (2019), alongside appearances in the black comedy thriller “Thoroughbreds” (2017) and the science fiction film “Morgan” (2016), where she portrayed the title character. The Gotham Independent Film Festival recognized her exceptional performance in “The Witch” with a Breakthrough Actor award, launching her into industry prominence. Her highest rated film, “The Witch,” boasts an impressive 91% rating, showcasing the critical acclaim for her debut starring role.
Her career reached new heights with her portrayal of chess prodigy Beth Harmon in Netflix’s miniseries “The Queen’s Gambit” (2020), earning widespread critical acclaim and multiple prestigious awards. The performance garnered her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Limited Series or Television Movie, a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie, and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
Taylor-Joy’s filmography demonstrates remarkable versatility, spanning genres from the period drama adaptation “Emma” (2020), which earned her a Golden Globe nomination, to recent projects including the psychological thriller “Last Night in Soho” (2021), the Viking epic “The Northman” (2022), and the dark comedy “The Menu” (2022).
She voiced Princess Peach in “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” (2023) and portrayed Imperator Furiosa in “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” (2024).
Her television work extends beyond “The Queen’s Gambit” to include appearances in the acclaimed crime drama “Peaky Blinders” (2019-2022) and the upcoming “Dune: Part Two” (2024), where she portrays Alia Atreides.
Recognized as both a fashion icon and influential cultural figure, Taylor-Joy continues securing leading roles in major international productions, including the upcoming action film “The Gorge” (2025), cementing her status among Hollywood’s most promising young talents.
