Top 10 Coolest Things About Anya Taylor-Joy

Anya Taylor-Joy has become one of the most versatile screen performers working today, shifting between prestige dramas, sharp thrillers, and big franchise fare while bringing a distinctive intensity to each role. Beyond the standout performances, her path spans multiple countries, languages, and disciplines, which shows up in how comfortably she moves across genres and formats. Here are ten concrete highlights from her career and background, with an emphasis on the projects that put her on the map.

‘The Queen’s Gambit’ (2020) – Did it spark a global chess boom?

Flitcraft

She leads the Netflix limited series as Beth Harmon, a chess prodigy whose rise is told through immersive tournament play and character-focused storytelling. The show collected major industry honors, including a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Limited Series and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Female Actor in a Miniseries. After its release, chess clubs, online platforms, and retailers reported surges in participation and chess-set sales, reflecting the show’s wide cultural impact.

‘The Witch’ (2015) – Was the dialogue built from 1630s sources?

Very Special Projects

Robert Eggers’ period horror uses language drawn from diaries and court records of early colonial New England, giving its dialogue a distinctly archaic cadence. Natural-light cinematography and historically accurate wardrobe reinforce the austere environment surrounding Thomasin’s family. The film’s authenticity helped position her as a go-to performer for elevated genre storytelling.

‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ (2024) – How did she take over an iconic role?

Warner Bros. Pictures

She steps into the title role in George Miller’s wasteland saga, expanding the character’s origin with large-scale chase sequences and practical stunt work. Production mounted extensive location shoots with custom-built vehicles and coordinated rigs to realize long, sustained action passages. Her portrayal bridges a new chapter of the franchise to the world established in earlier entries.

‘The Menu’ (2022) – How did culinary consultants shape the set-pieces?

Hyperobject Industries

Set in an exclusive island restaurant, the film integrates advice from chefs and food stylists so service choreography, plating, and kitchen workflow read as authentic on screen. She plays a guest whose unexpected presence disrupts the chef’s meticulously plotted evening. The production’s tight geography and timed courses help ratchet tension alongside its satire of haute cuisine culture.

‘Split’ (2016) – How does it connect a shared universe?

Gravitas Ventures

She co-stars in M. Night Shyamalan’s thriller and later returns in ‘Glass’, which links the story world to ‘Unbreakable’ through recurring characters and intersecting arcs. Minimal locations and dialogue-driven scenes keep the focus on character psychology and shifting power dynamics. Her character becomes a connective thread that carries emotional continuity across installments.

‘Last Night in Soho’ (2021) – Did she sing ‘Downtown’ for the film?

Focus Features

Working with Edgar Wright, she appears as a magnetic figure in a psychological thriller that crosscuts between modern London and a stylized past. She recorded a cover of ‘Downtown’ for the soundtrack, which the production weaves into key transitions and performances. Mirror gags, in-camera choreography, and carefully staged long takes convey the story’s doubled identities.

‘Emma.’ (2020) – What sets the production design apart?

Working Title Films

She headlines Autumn de Wilde’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic, balancing sharp social comedy with precise timing. The film emphasizes deliberate color palettes, architectural symmetry, and period-accurate costuming to underline character status and shifting relationships. An ensemble approach showcases dialogue-driven humor and the mechanics of matchmaking within tightly composed interiors.

‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ (2023) – How did her voice work broaden her range?

Universal Pictures

As Princess Peach, she adds animation to her repertoire in a high-velocity family film from Illumination and Nintendo. Voice sessions were tailored to match brisk action beats and comedic timing typical of the studio’s style. The movie became a box-office benchmark for game-to-film adaptations, further diversifying her portfolio beyond live action.

‘Peaky Blinders’ (2013–2022) – Which seasons and story threads feature her?

Tiger Aspect

She appears as Gina Gray, introduced in the later run of the series, with her storyline spanning pivotal developments in the Shelby family’s business and alliances. The show’s period crime setting pairs with contemporary music choices and power-play plotting. Her character’s American connections and negotiations add international pressure to the gang’s operations.

Bilingual upbringing and global roots

Born in Miami to Argentine and British parents, she grew up in Buenos Aires and London, which gave her a fluent command of English and Spanish. She studied ballet before shifting to acting, a foundation that supports physical control and movement-heavy roles. Discovered for modeling in London, she soon pivoted to auditions, landing early screen work that led to the projects above.

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