Anya Taylor-Joy, a renowned actress celebrated for her roles in The Queen’s Gambit, The Menu, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, has found herself at the center of an online debate. The controversy erupted after an article referred to her as a “woman of color,” a classification that left many internet users scratching their heads.
The confusion stemmed from an article published following Taylor-Joy’s Golden Globe win. The actress was honored with the Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film award for her performance in The Queen’s Gambit in 2021. However, it wasn’t just the victory that made headlines—it was the way one major publication described her.
Online Debate Over Anya Taylor-Joy’s Ethnic Identity
After Taylor-Joy’s Golden Globe win, Variety initially reported that she was the first “woman of color” to secure the award in her category since Queen Latifah in 2008. This statement was met with widespread confusion, with many questioning the accuracy of the label.
The debate gained momentum when writer Valerie Complex took to social media, highlighting the claim and expressing disbelief. “I love her as an actress, but THIS article has her listed as the FIRST WOMAN OF COLOR to win in this category, and I legit give up,” Complex tweeted, drawing attention to the controversy.
Social media platforms quickly became flooded with similar reactions. One Twitter user wrote, “Anya Taylor-Joy is incredibly talented, but she is not a woman of color.” Another added, “Is this some kind of joke? She is white. Just because she’s from Latin America doesn’t mean she isn’t white.”
The Debate Over ‘Latina’ and ‘Person of Color’ Labels
Many online users pointed out that Latin American identity does not equate to being a person of color, as Latin America is home to people of various ethnic backgrounds, including European descendants. Some emphasized that being Latina and being a woman of color are not always interchangeable concepts.
One user commented, “Being Latina is about culture, but race is a separate thing. There are white Latinas, Black Latinas, and Indigenous Latinas. Anya Taylor-Joy is a white Latina.” Another stated, “Just because someone speaks Spanish or comes from a Latin American country doesn’t automatically mean they aren’t white.”
Amid the growing criticism, Variety quietly updated its article to correct the wording. A disclaimer was added to clarify that the previous version had incorrectly identified Taylor-Joy as a person of color. The updated statement now reads, “A previous version identified Anya Taylor-Joy as a person of color. She has said she identifies as a white Latina.”
Anya Taylor-Joy’s Own Perspective on Her Identity
Born in Miami, Florida, Taylor-Joy was raised in Argentina until she was six years old before relocating to the United Kingdom. Her father, Dennis Alan Taylor, is of Scottish-Argentine descent, while her mother, Jennifer Marina Joy, has African-Spanish and English roots.
Although she embraces her Argentine heritage and is fluent in Spanish, Taylor-Joy has previously acknowledged that she does not fit the conventional image of a Latina actress. In an interview with Vulture, she expressed her concerns about taking roles meant for Latina actresses who physically represent the community more accurately.
She explained, “I’m aware of the fact that I don’t look like a typical Latin person, and that’s not fair. I don’t want to be someone that you can just sub in for that role when I’m really white and blonde.”
Her remarks highlight a broader discussion in Hollywood about representation and the nuances of identity. As conversations surrounding ethnicity, race, and cultural identity continue to evolve, incidents like this underscore the complexities of categorizing individuals based solely on nationality or language.