Anya Taylor-Joy is “Furiosa”. The first explosive images from the “Fury Road” prequel reveal the actress’s look(s) and instantly establish her as an essential figure in pop culture. A look back at his career in 10 faces.
Since her debut in 2016 in The Witch, Anya Taylor-Joy’s Hollywood career has been closely followed, oscillating between independent works and major productions, with some notable “pop” works such as Split by M. Night Shyamalan, the Netflix series Queen’s Gambit or the animated film Super Mario Bros. And since the first images of Furiosa, the prequel to Mad Max Fury Road, were posted online, her name is now on everyone’s lips.
A look back in images – and faces – on the journey of the 27-year-old American-British actress who will undoubtedly be one of the essential stars of 2024. “Be witnesses!”
The Witch (2016)
Universal Pictures
After a notable appearance at the Sundance Festival, which revealed new talents in independent cinema, the general public discovered the face ofAnya Taylor-Joy in The VVitch. In front of the radical camera of Robert Eggers, who is making his first feature film, the actress plunges into a dark and mystical universe, between puritanism and witchcraft. Acclaimed at numerous festivals and award ceremonies, the film earned Anya Taylor-Joy her first nominations and awards, including the Most Promising Actor at the Empire awards and the Chopard Trophy awarded at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.
Split (2017)
Universal Pictures
If James McAvoy delivers a memorable performance in Splitillustrating himself on screen through different personalities, Anya Taylor-Joy also leaves a lasting impression. In the psychological thriller, the hidden sequel to Unbreakable, she plays the sequestered but determined, insightful, touching and disturbing victim of this super-villain inhabited by multiple identities (including the terrifying “Beast”). She will reprise her role in 2019 in Glass, the third and final part of the superheroic trilogy imagined by M. Night Shyamalan.
Peaky Blinders (2019)
BBC One
If she had already distinguished herself on the small screen at the very beginning of her career (in seasons 2 of Morse Mysteries and Atlantis), Anya Taylor-Joy joins its first major series in 2019. In seasons 5 and 6 of Peaky Blinders, she plays Gina Gray, a manipulative, opportunistic and contemptuous young woman who tries to find her place within the Shelby clan after marrying Michael Gray (Finn Cole). She appears in 12 episodes, before taking on the main role in the series which will definitively establish her among the general public.
The Queen’s Game (2020)
Charlie Gray/Netflix
This program is The Queen’s Game, a Netflix Original in 7 episodes which traces the journey of Beth Harmon, a chess prodigy in the middle of the Cold War. A real hit, the series was awarded the Golden Globes for best mini-series and best actress, and recognized with eleven Emmy Award nominations. In the main role, Anya Taylor-Joy is simply fascinating, elegant and powerful, and manages to brilliantly transcribe the inner journey and reflections of this champion determined to impose herself in a world dominated by men. Her performance will even create vocations among new players, while delighting the platform with record viewing numbers.
Emma (2020)
Focus Features
After getting lost in The New Mutants, a failed attempt at a horrific derivative of the X-Men universe (where it does not, however, demerit), Anya Taylor-Joy slips into the superb (Oscar nominated) costumes of Emma Woodhouse. Adapted from the eponymous novel by Jane Austen published in 1815, Emma features a matchmaker who tries to get the single people in her circle of friends to meet their soul mates. Deprived of a theatrical release in France, the film was offered directly on VOD/DVD in France.
Last Night in Soho (2021)
Focus Features
Unfairly shunned in theaters (less than 100,000 admissions in France, barely $22 million in revenue worldwide), Last Night in Soho is a strange film, somewhere between thriller, horror film, dream and time travel. In front of the lens of the talented Edgar Wright (Baby Driver), Anya Taylor-Joy – fascinating once again – takes on the role of a singer in London in the 60s (she was initially supposed to play another role in the film, but the filmmaker decided to entrust her with this character, convinced by her acting and her atypical physique) . For the occasion, she reveals her talents as a singer by covering the hits Downtown And You’re My World.
The Northman (2022)
Focus Features
At the same time, she became a fashion icon (she is a muse for Dior), Anya Taylor-Joy find Robert Eggers, the filmmaker of his debut, for The Northman. In this very graphic historical epic, inspired by Hamlet, she plays a young Slavic slave who will accompany the colossus Alexander Skarsgård on his vengeful quest. A third collaboration with Eggers was to follow for the actress (the new, highly anticipated version of Nosferatu), but she will have to give it up due to lack of time and will be replaced by Lily-Rose Depp.
The Menu (2022)
The Walt Disney Company France
The same year, Anya Taylor-Joy takes a seat alongside Nicholas Hoult at Ralph Fiennes’ table. A deadly gastronomic thriller, Le Menu enjoyed great success in theaters (nearly $80 million in revenue) and shows that the actress can also play a “normal” character (and not an unusual one, as she did). habit of doing it in her other roles) since she is here the only guest who retains her reason and her free will during a radical, astonishing… and bloody dinner.
Super Mario Bros. the movie (2023)
Illumination Studios
It is one of the biggest successes of the year 2023. And beyond the Illumination touch, the original voice casting brings a lot to this adaptation of the Nintendo universe (even if the French version will do even better). Alongside Chris Pratt (Mario), Charlie Day (Luigi), Jack Black (Bowser) and Keegan-Michael Key (Toad), Anya Taylor-Joy becomes Peach to whom she gives all her modernity and energy. To the point of making the Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom the real heroine of the film, who does not need anyone to come “save her in another castle”.
Furiosa (2024)
Warner Bros.
Nine years after the shock Fury Road, director George Miller continues the exploration of the postapocalyptic universe of Mad Max with Furiosa, a prequel focused on the origins of the road warrior and expected on screens in May 2024. Shaved head, severed arm, already cult look and furious game: Anya Taylor-Joy It reprises the role played by Charlize Theron in the original film. See you in the pantheon of pop culture… and on the steps of Cannes?