At only 26 years old, actress Anya Taylor-Joy is the recipient of a Golden Globe Award with a career those twice her age would envy. Making her breakthrough with Robert Eggers' The Witch — an instant success that catapulted the actress into stardom — Taylor-Joy has since starred in many great productions, including Eggers' latest hit The Northman.
In this action-filled epic, set around the turn of the 10th century, Taylor-Joy plays a Slavic slave named Olga. Though this role is unlike anything she's done before, Taylor-Joy is an incredibly versatile actress who doesn't tie herself to any one genre. Her best movies and series, outlined here, reflect that.
The Witch (2015)
The Witch is a period horror movie written and directed by Robert Eggers in his feature directorial debut. Set in 1630 New England, it follows a Puritan family living on the edge of a remote forest thrown into a frenzy when their youngest son Samuel goes missing and their crops start failing. With no explanation for these misfortunes, all fingers point to Thomasin (Taylor-Joy), the eldest daughter of farmer William (Ralph Ineson) and Katherine (Kate Dickie), who convinces her twin siblings she is a witch.
Haunting and atmospheric, The Witch doesn't rely on jump scares or cheap tricks to frighten its audience. Instead, like the A24 horrors that follow it (Saint Maud, Midsommar), it blends themes of hysteria, trauma, and religion to build a sense of dread that culminates in the movie's final scene. Anya Taylor-Joy is incredible at portraying young Thomasin, who desperately wants to be a good girl but finds herself attracted to the darkness. As the shining star in this movie (which is, in many ways, a twisted coming-of-age tale), Taylor-Joy owns The Witch, as Thomasin comes to own her ungodly desires.
Split (2016)
Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, Split is a psychological thriller movie about DID sufferer Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), a man with 23 personalities who kidnaps and holds hostage three teenagers. These victims are best friends Claire (Haley Lu Richardson) and Marcia (Jessica Sula), and social outcast Casey (Taylor-Joy). Imprisoned in an underground lair, the girls learn about Kevin's 24th personality, The Beast, and band together to fight it.
Taylor-Joy has the most significant role of the three girls as the smart and empathetic Casey. A fascinating character, Casey is a survivor of abuse and relates to Kevin in a way that the others cannot; this, combined with her survivalist knowledge, gives her the key to their escape. Some of Casey's best scenes involve 9-year-old alter Hedwig, a Kanye West-loving dancer she befriends as part of her escape plan. Hedwig provides plenty of laughs, and his innocence permits a more sympathetic portrayal of DID that touches both Casey and the audience.
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019)
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is a Netflix original fantasy series that acts as a prequel to the 1982 Jim Henson movie The Dark Crystal. Set in the world of Thra, the series follows three Gelflings: Rian (Taron Egerton), Deet (Nathalie Emmanuel), and Brea (Taylor-Joy), on a quest to save their planet from the corrupted, tyrannical Skeksis, the self-proclaimed Lords of the Crystal. The Crystal of Truth is the beating heart of Thra that, in the Skeksis' hands, has become corrupted, spreading sickness across the land.
Winner of a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program, Age of Resistance was well-received by critics and audiences alike. Produced by The Jim Henson Company, it shares much in common with the original movie, including incredible puppetry, production design, and voice acting above all else. It is considered one of the most faithful adaptations ever created. Taylor-Joy only helps win over audiences who get to see her character go from bored princess to plucky, powerful rebel.
The Queen's Gambit (2020)
The Queen's Gambit is a Netflix original drama miniseries based on the 1983 Walter Tevis novel of the same name. Beginning in the 50s and ending in the late 60s, the story follows fictional chess prodigy Beth Harmon (Taylor-Joy) as she comes of age. Audiences first meet Beth at age 9 after her mother dies, and she is sent to live in an orphanage. Here, she meets Mr Shaibel (Bill Camp), a gruff but kind-hearted janitor who teaches her how to play chess. Beth immediately falls in love with the game and, for the next decade of her life, seeks to rise to the top whilst battling addiction.
Watched by 62 million households in its first 28 days, The Queen's Gambitbroke the record for Netflix's most-watched scripted limited series to date (a record since surpassed by Maid). The miniseries also won many awards, including a whopping 11 Emmys and two Golden Globes. This isn't surprising; the story is captivating — exploring themes of grief, addiction, and sexuality, as well as chess — and the acting is superb. Aside from Taylor-Joy, who offers the best performance of her career here, Thomas Brodie-Sangster is particularly brilliant as her on-screen competition.
Last Night in Soho (2021)
Directed by Edgar Wright and co-written by Wright and Krysty Wilson-Cairns, Last Night in Soho is a psychological thriller that follows a young country girl, Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie), whose move to London becomes a nightmare. Studying at the London College of Fashion and unhappy living in her halls, Eloise rents a bedsit from an elderly woman (Diana Rigg) and dreams her way into the 60s where she meets aspiring singer Sandie (Taylor-Joy). A fan of all things retro, Eloise is elated with her time-traveling abilities, until the past begins to haunt her in more ways than one.
The apple of Eloise's eye, Sandie is a complex character who is, in many ways, the main character of Last Night in Soho. The first time audiences see Sandie — which is almost always through Eloise's eyes — they see a confident young woman with a lot going for her. As they spend more time with her, however, they see her slowly break down, as life takes her down some dark roads. Sandie's trauma is a major theme in Last Night in Soho that Taylor-Joy handles with sensitivity. Likewise, McKenzie returns this favor with her character, and the best scenes in the movie see Eloise desperately try to protect Sandie.