Few Hollywood stars have shone brightly and risen as rapidly as Anya Taylor-Joy. Her remarkable journey in the industry reaches new heights with her latest role in the eagerly anticipated film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
Known for her captivating performances, Taylor-Joy has garnered critical acclaim and a host of prestigious accolades. In 2021, her exceptional talent was recognized in The Queen's Gambit in 2020 with a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film.
Her trajectory in the world of entertainment has been nothing short of meteoric. Early in her career, The Hollywood Reporter identified her as a rising star and spotlighted her in their 2016 list of Hollywood's under-35 luminaries.
W magazine echoed this sentiment in 2017, highlighting her as a burgeoning talent to watch, while Forbes followed suit by giving her a coveted spot on their 30 Under-30 list. Time magazine's 2021 inclusion in its 100 Next list celebrated her as a leader shaping the future, with a tribute penned by chess legend Garry Kasparov, further cementing her status as a global icon.
Beyond film and television achievements, Taylor-Joy has become a distinguished ambassador for several high-profile brands, including Viktor & Rolf, Tiffany & Co., Dior's fashion and makeup, and Jaeger-LeCoultre, showcasing her versatility and appeal across various spheres.
In September 2023, she celebrated her marriage to American musician Malcolm McRae, the rock band More's frontman, at the picturesque Palazzo Pisani Moretta in Venice, Italy.
We explore the layers of her career, her latest film role in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, and her insights, offering a comprehensive look at one of our time's most dynamic and compelling artists.
STRIPLV: Your co-star in Furiosa, Chris Hemsworth, said he was invigorated by working on the set despite being exhausted before he even began. How about you? TAYLOR-JOY: Shooting Furiosa in Australia was like being on another world. I had to take a moment to process what was happening, and I can safely say the seven months we were working on this project rank as some of my most defining and fulfilling in the time I have been in film. There are some moments that just stay with you and make you feel special, not just in the moment but every time you look back. Some memories fade, and the magic dies; in other cases, it remains. STRIPLV: What makes the difference? TAYLOR-JOY: I am firm believer in the idea that you get out what you put in. For this, we all put in a lot, from day one, the most possible. We were all so charged and so driven. Our excitement and passion poured into it. Ultimately, this role was the grimiest and most blood-soaked I've ever experienced, which is quite a thing to say, I guess. Whenever I have the opportunity to be messy or bloodied rather than flawlessly neat and pretty, I'm truly enjoying myself. That's when I feel most at ease and most passionate. STRIPLV: Aren't you in a notorious road movie, yet you can't drive in real life? TAYLOR-JOY: I don't hold a driver's license, so regular driving, like on a highway or parallel parking, is beyond my skill set. However, I can pull off an impressive 180 in a truck without endangering the camera crew, which is a plus. (Laughs) One day, when I have the time to stay in one place, I'll get my driver's license, which will be a joyful moment as it'll allow me to truly enjoy driving. As for my initial experience with cars, I've been rather spoiled since they were crafted by the Mad Max art department. STRIPLV: You've spoken at length about how it took a while to return to normal after the pandemic. It was refreshing to hear your fears at a time when many were too afraid to speak openly. TAYLOR-JOY: Thank you. I am back to normal, but it's clear a lot of us aren't, and I do find that very sad. It has affected some people perennially. It's still in all our consciousnesses; so maybe I am not totally back to normal, but I am certainly in a place where the fear is no longer prevalent. For a long time, it was that feeling that this is something we may not emerge out of, and even if we do, we may find ourselves plummeting into once again further down the line. I don't actually think those things are true, but when you have the very fabric of your life ripped from beneath you, it's difficult not to view things from a really hopeless perspective. What is true is that after so long working in different ways and for a spell of time not working at all, I am dedicated and driven to take every opportunity and to work harder than ever before, and that's what I have been doing. STRIPLV: Have your work methods mostly stayed the same, though? TAYLOR-JOY: Well, no, because in many ways, I've always worked at 100kph. I've always been admiring of actors who can be calm and not nervous when they don't have projects on. I'm not like that. I couldn't be. I need to be active, moving along, looking for the next thing. I am lucky in the sense that I've always had momentum in the projects I work on without taking on too many and diluting what it is I give to each. STRIPLV: Did the Vogue cover change you? TAYLOR-JOY: It was a fantasy thing, I guess, something most young girls dream of when they begin to find a way in entertainment and culture. Of course, the perception versus reality is very different with these things, and much like is the case when you make a movie. That whole process of putting together an hour-of-a-half of drama is something that is very stunted, drawn-out, laboring, and very un-Hollywood, yet what you see as the end result is everything you imagine this industry to be like. And I guess, in a way, photoshoots are much the same thing. They are regimented, finickity, and awkward, too. So, I guess what I am saying is the idea of the cover is in some way greater than the actual experience, and perhaps that's true of so much of what we undertake, look forward to and, indeed, look back on in life. Perception is almost always different to reality, not necessarily better or worse, just different. STRIPLV: How do you keep your feet on the ground regarding ego, humility, etc? TAYLOR-JOY: I don't actually find that too difficult at all if I am honest. In New York, there were huge billboards featuring my face, but I never had the chance to see them myself. However, I believe this has been beneficial for my mental well-being. I was constantly moving from one project to another, which didn't leave me any time to ponder whether this success was affecting me too much. In 2019, I filmed Emma, followed by just a single day's break before starting Last Night in Soho, and then, after another day off, I moved on to The Queen's Gambit. I recall being ready to begin Soho the next day, and I told myself, "You have one hour to cry. One hour to let it all out, to appreciate the amazing experience you've just had and then you need to shift your focus to tomorrow's tasks." However, I'm interested to see how things will pan out in the future, especially now that I have a bit more personal time in my life. STRIPLV: I hear that you had an unorthodox way of learning English when you were young. TAYLOR-JOY: I actually learned a lot of English from Harry Potter books! They were the ones that connected me with the English language when we first moved here, and as much as I rebelled against that at first, ultimately, I was swept along by those stories, and they opened my eyes to then language at the same time. Yet the thing is that although I do speak with a clear and soft English accent because of my time in London and growing up there, I don't always speak that way. It depends on the people who I am speaking to and who I am around at the time. So, I may seem as if I am a quaint and well-spoken young English lady, but I say I am with other English people who are dropping a few letters and speaking a bit more Cockney, which can rub off on me. I think it's good to be able to change a little bit, and God knows it could help me get future roles that I would never have even thought about reading for in the future. (Laughs) STRIPLV: There were many rumors surrounding The Queen's Gambit, and it never got a second season. However, there will be a musical. But how great was it to do that and capture an audience over lockdown in 2020, with 62 million households watching it in its first 28 days? TAYLOR-JOY: It was a lovely role, and, of course, I was absolutely thrilled that it became such a big hit, but some things do need to be left, and the producers have been clear and were clear that there was an endpoint. I think we wrapped it at the right place. It was one of those projects that had such wonder cinematography for me. Even before we started, I had read the book and it became so apparent to me that I was falling completely head over heels in love with the main character, Beth, as soon as I had read the book, which didn't take me long because I couldn't put it down. I felt like it would be an amazing adaptation if someone was thinking about making it. Lo and behold, director Scott Frank was making it, and yes, I did think it would be a good watch, and I was intrigued to see how he would do it for the screen. But did I think it would reach the astronomical number of viewers that it has on Netflix? Not for a second. The thing is, I wasn't aware that it was blowing up because what happens if you catch a good run of roles? I was working almost immediately on the next project. I was actually up on the side of a mountain, barefoot, in the freezing cold when the whole thing was blowing up, and it was becoming clear people really liked what we had done. It was very special. They're turning it into a musical and I think that is a sensitive way of extending its lifespan. I don't think a second season can take you anywhere beyond where you have been. STRIPLV: But we should never say never in this industry? TAYLOR-JOY: I guess not, and that is true, but someone would need to write a second book first! STRIPLV: With so much success, including your cherished Golden Globe, you must now have the confidence that this is a career that will build and continue to flourish? TAYLOR-JOY: I will never take anything for granted. I am eternally grateful for the success I have had, but I won't progress any further in my career without hard work, dedication, and humility. I never assume the next project is around the corner. In fact, I usually assume there is a challenge waiting for me. My fear of the future actually energizes me, and I am grateful for that perspective and approach.
TRUE JOY
Why Anya Taylor-Joy exemplifies authenticity in more than just the film roles she pursues.
Anya Taylor-Joy is renowned for her enchanting screen performances and embodies a sense of authenticity that extends far beyond her roles. This genuineness is rooted in her lifestyle choices, particularly her commitment to veganism since the tender age of eight.
Her choice to adopt a plant-based diet reflects a deep-seated conscience and a compassionate outlook toward all living beings.
This decision – made at such a young age – showcases her early awareness and desire to make ethical choices, setting her apart as an individual who truly lives by her principles. Likewise, avoiding dyeing her hair adds another layer to her true persona.
In an industry where altering appearances is often the norm, her choice to embrace her natural hair color speaks volumes about her confidence and her value of staying true to herself.
This aspect of her life accentuates her realness and connects her with fans who admire the characters she portrays and the person she is off-screen. "I think to be genuine on-screen you probably need to display that same level of honesty and transparency off-screen," she says.
"The way I live my life is by looking into the broader ethos and values I was raised with. To care about the planet and to care about myself is really at the heart of it. In time, of course, I want that to extend to my family and everything that entails, but for now, I am settled with my moral compass and my choices."
Through such actions, the Golden Globe winner emerges as a talented actress and a trustworthy role model, inspiring others to consider the impact of their lifestyle choices on the planet and its inhabitants.