Anya-Josephine Marie Taylor-Joy entered the film industry at sixteen, transitioning from ballet training and professional modeling into a career defined by rapid success in independent horror and period dramas. Born in 1996 to a family with international roots, she moved between Miami, Buenos Aires, and London before establishing a prominent screen presence in both television and cinema.
Early Background and Education
Born on 16 April 1996 in Miami, Florida, Taylor-Joy holds American, British, and Argentine connections through her parents. Her father, Dennis Alan Taylor, was an offshore powerboat racer, while her mother, Jennifer Marina Joy, worked as a psychologist. Her childhood was spent in Buenos Aires, where she attended Northlands School, before relocating to the Victoria area of London at age six. Her formal education in London included attendance at Hill House International Junior School and Queen's Gate School. During this period, she pursued ballet until the age of fifteen.
Entry into Performance
At seventeen, Taylor-Joy was scouted as a model by Sarah Doukas while walking a dog near Harrods in London. She signed with Storm Management with the explicit requirement that she could prioritize acting. Her introduction to acting agencies occurred after she was noticed by actor Allen Leech while reciting Seamus Heaney’s poem "Digging" during a modeling job for the television series Downton Abbey. Her early acting credits include minor television appearances in Endeavour and Atlantis.
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Her career reached a turning point in 2015 with a leading role in Robert Eggers' period horror film, The Witch. Following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, she received the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor. She continued working in genre-driven narratives, appearing in M. Night Shyamalan’s Split in 2016 and its 2019 sequel, Glass. Her 2017 portfolio included the black comedy Thoroughbreds and the horror mystery Marrowbone. During this same year, she was honored with the Trophée Chopard at the Cannes Film Festival.
Television Success and Global Recognition
Taylor-Joy expanded her range through period dramas, including the 2017 miniseries The Miniaturist and the 2020 film adaptation of Emma. Her performance as Beth Harmon in the 2020 miniseries The Queen's Gambit earned her the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie. She also appeared in the crime drama series Peaky Blinders between 2019 and 2022.
Recent Projects
Her filmography in the 2020s includes roles in Last Night in Soho, The Northman, and The Menu. In 2024, she portrayed the title character in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. She has also contributed voice acting, notably as Princess Peach in the 2023 animated film The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the forthcoming 2026 production The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. She remains active in the industry, having also appeared in the 2025 film The Gorge.
Fast facts
- Born: 16 April 1996, Miami
- Citizenship: United Kingdom, United States
- Education: Northlands School, Queen's Gate School
- Notable Breakthrough: The Witch (2015)
- 2021 Golden Globe Winner: Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film
- Voice Work: The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
- Languages: English, Spanish
Questions readers ask
What was Anya Taylor-Joy's first major film role?
Her breakthrough role was in the 2015 period horror film The Witch.
Which awards did she receive for The Queen's Gambit?
She won both a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance in the miniseries.
Achievements
- Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film — 2021
- Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie — 2021
- Notable work: Emma
- Notable work: The Queen's Gambit
- Notable work: The Witch
- Notable work: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
- Worked as model, television actor and film actor
