It's no secret that Netflix's The Queen's Gambit [1] is a smash hit of a series, and lead actor Anya Taylor-Joy, who plays Beth Harmon, is an immensely talented rising star. With quite a few impressive performances under her belt – like leading roles in Emma [2] and The Witch — fans have become very curious about Anya Taylor-Joy, and we found five surprising facts that will make you love her even more.

Taylor-Joy was born in Miami to a mother of British and Spanish descent and a Scottish-Argentine father. She moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, as a child where she learned Spanish before moving to London where she was raised. After attending the prestigious Hill House preparatory school in Kensington, she returned to Argentina, and later continued her studies at the Queen's Gate School in London. At 16, Taylor-Joy was scouted by Sarah Doukas of Storm model management outside of Harrods department store, which gave her the opportunity to sign with an acting agent. The Witch was Taylor-Joy's breakthrough role, in which she played Thomasin in the acclaimed period horror. She later rose to prominence through her roles as Charlotte Baughman in the Barack Obama biopic Barry, Casey Cooke in M. Night Shyamalan's Split alongside James McAvoy [3], and the lead role in the 2020 Jane Austen remake of Emma.

Fancy knowing more about the impressive young actor? Keep reading for five fascinating facts about Anya Taylor-Joy.

The Witch Was Anya Taylor-Joy's Breakthrough Role

Anya Taylor-Joy's breakthrough role came at 19 years old when she starred as Thomasin in the 2015 period horror film The Witch. The film, as well as Taylor-Joy's performance, won numerous awards and nominations, including a 2017 nomination for young British/Irish performer of the year by the London Film Critics' Circle.

Anya Taylor-Joy Was Nominated For a BAFTA Rising Star Award

In 2017, Anya Taylor-Joy was nominated for a BAFTA Rising Star Award [4] alongside Tom Holland [5], Laia Costa, Lucas Hedges, and Ruth Negga. Although the award went to Spider-man's Tom Holland, the nomination propelled Taylor-Joy's name to greater recognition.

Anya Taylor-Joy Attended the Same Prep School as Prince Charles

Anya Taylor-Joy had quite a privileged education. The Queen's Gambit actor attended the Hill House preparatory school in Kensington, London, which notes Prince Charles [7] and Lily Allen [8] as alumni.

Anya Taylor-Joy's Romantic Life Is a Bit of a Mystery

Who has Anya Taylor-Joy dated [9]? We might never know the full details. The very private actor's longest-known public relationship was with Irish actor Eoin Macken from around 2016 to 2018. In 2020, Taylor-Joy was spotted out and about with rumoured boyfriend [10], photographer Ben Seed.