Anya Taylor-Joy Covers British Vogue April 2022, Lensed by Craig McDean

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Actor Anya Taylor-Joy wears shimmering Dior in her ‘Platinum Queen’ cover story for the April 2022 issue of British Vogue. Kate Phelan styles the actor in images by Craig McDean [IG]. / Hair by Christian Eberhard; makeup by Peter Philips

British Vogue’s writer Olivia Marks assures readers that there’s nothing “remotely imperious” about 25-year-old Anya Taylor-Joy’s behavior. The Dior ambassador is Interviewed first at the January 2022 end of Couture Week in Paris at a photography studio in an industrial north-east suburb of the city, then again the following day at her hotel, the new LVMH-owned Cheval Blanc and walking the streets of Paris to the actor’s favorite bookshop Shakespeare and Company.

‘The Queen’s Gambit’ actor may be channeling Queen Elizabeth II, wearing a replica of the George IV State Diadem on the cover. But she retains a strong sense of sobriety after her staggering success and global recognition with the Netflix release of the first season of winning series.

Set during the Cold War era, orphaned chess prodigy Beth Harmon struggles with addiction in a quest to become the greatest chess player in the world. Beth struggles with issues of abandonment, self-criticism, mistrust and loneliness as a result of her early youth growing up with a mentally unstable mother.

Life with the Paparazzi

While Anya Taylor-Joy enjoys dressing up, she doesn’t “necessarily love the red-carpet experience,” telling Olivia Marks that she more or less experiences a “blackout” because it’s “so, so overwhelming.” Struggling with poor eyesight before recently getting contacts, the actor describes the “braying bank of photographers” as a “giant amorphous beast that has all of these eyes”.

Apparently the actor asked them not to scream at her, and she says her frankly-spoken words have paid off.

I’ve noticed that recently, when I step on to a carpet, they’re like, ‘OK, we get more from her if we’re more calm,’ because I just don’t respond to aggression. I shut down.”

Her Partner Musician and Actor Malcolm McRae

“I’ve finally found someone who will happily sit in silence with me reading. We’re basically 80 years old and seven at the same time and it works really well,” the star says about her partner Malcolm McRae. Asked if a long-distance relationship is hard to maintain, the answer is ‘yes’ . . . but it’s also kind of great because when you’re together you’re really valuing the time that you have. Everyday mundane activities are so full of joy. I love going to the petrol station with him and filling up the car and going to get breakfast.”

Home is east London, but Taylor-Joy has been living in the US filming a top secret David O Russell film with Margot Robbie. Described as a black comedy thrilled, ‘The Menu’ is helmed by ‘Succession’ director Mark Mylod.

‘The Northman’ April 2022

After that comes her role in ‘Furiosa’, based on the origin story of the renegade ‘Mad Max’ warrior. She expresses being “ecstatically” happy when filming ‘The Northman’ in Northern Ireland. Set in 1-th-century Iceland, Taylor-Joy is shackled, enslaved and soaking wet wearing rags.

Barefoot and ankle-deep in mud or plunged into the icy ocean, with her belongings – books, a candle and a few healing crystals – stuffed in a Sainsbury’s plastic bag. the actor thrills to her vision:. “I looked insane. So infuriatingly joyful. The stunt guys would say, ‘Can we get out of the water now?’ And I was like, ‘This is amazing. Nature! We’re outside! We get to make art.’”

The ‘Northman’ is set for release on April 22, 2022. As always we’ve skipped major parts of the interview: Hollywood’s Punk Princess: Anya Taylor-Joy Talks Romance, Raving & Rebellion.