Anya Taylor-Joy, widely recognized for her striking looks and remarkable talent, once shared a deeply personal reflection after being asked if her unique eyes ever made her feel self-conscious. Her candid response shed light on her journey from dealing with childhood teasing to embracing her distinct features as she rose to fame in Hollywood.
From Debut to Stardom
Taylor-Joy, now 28, first appeared on-screen in the English detective series Endeavour before gaining attention for her breakthrough role as Thomasin in Robert Eggers’ critically acclaimed The Witch. Since then, she has delivered stunning performances in projects like The Queen’s Gambit, The Menu, and Amsterdam. Most recently, she stars as Alia Atreides in Dune: Part Two and as the titular character in George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
Despite her success, Taylor-Joy has opened up about the insecurities she faced growing up, particularly regarding her appearance.
A Painful Question and a Reflective Answer
During an interview with W Magazine while promoting M. Night Shyamalan’s Split, a journalist described her eyes as “beautiful” but added, “They’re so far apart.” The reporter then asked, “When you were a kid, did they make you self-conscious?”
Taylor-Joy responded by recounting a hurtful experience from her youth:
“I can definitely remember when Facebook was a thing, and I wasn’t aware that my eyes were far apart until someone tagged me in a picture with a fish and said, ‘This is you because your eyes are like here.’”
The comment left a lasting impact.
“I was really upset about it and stopped looking in mirrors for a very long time,” she admitted.
Growing Confidence Over Time
Although the teasing made her avoid mirrors, Taylor-Joy revealed she has learned to laugh about it. “I still don’t really spend a lot of time in front of mirrors. I guess it’s just easier not to deal with my face,” she joked, adding, “Unfortunately, y’all do.”
The actress also reflected on how her eye placement affected her childhood, particularly in sports.
“On the playground, it was known that if you wanted me to catch a ball, you had to throw it at the side of my head because if it came straight at me, I’d just be like, ‘What’s going on?’”
However, she noted that her face has since changed as she has grown older, saying, “My head has grown a bit more, and I’m kind of growing into myself. I’m a bit less awkward.”
Finding Success Despite Insecurities
Despite lingering insecurities, Taylor-Joy’s career has flourished. Her ability to channel her uniqueness into captivating performances has made her one of the most sought-after talents in Hollywood. She continues to land high-profile roles, including in the Apple TV+ survival thriller The Gorge and Romain Gavras’ Sacrifice, where she stars alongside Chris Evans, Salma Hayek, and Charli XCX.
As Taylor-Joy’s career continues to soar, her candidness about overcoming insecurities serves as a reminder that what makes someone different is often what makes them extraordinary.