To say Anya Taylor-Joy [1] has been busy lately would be an understatement. The 22-year-old actress rose to prominence with the role of Thomasin in Robert Eggers's 2015 horror film, The Witch, and since then, Anya has starred in five other major Hollywood films.
She already has several movies lined up to premiere in the next few years, including a reprisal of the role she played in M. Night Shyamalan's 2017 thriller, Split [2]; a second collaboration with Robert Eggers; and a new Marvel mutant horror trilogy [3]. We can't wait to see what our new favourite scream queen does next, but until then, here's a look back on the half-dozen roles Anya has already taken on.
The Witch
In Anya's breakout role, she plays Thomasin, a young woman who witnesses the disappearance of her youngest brother in 1630 New England and is consequently accused of witchcraft. Anya plays Thomasin with such conviction that you actually believe she's trapped in a 17th-century waking nightmare. Her frightfully good performance is only matched by Black Phillip, who just might be the scariest goat of all time.
Where it's available: Streaming on Amazon Prime [4]
Morgan
In this British-American science fiction horror film, Anya plays the title character, Morgan, a bioengineered child who develops at a much quicker pace than her creators expected. It's only after Morgan attacks one of her handlers and escapes from the top-secret facility in which she's kept that her creators realise they've created an unpredictable and violent machine. Though not the greatest movie she's starred in, Anya still terrifies in her role of child cyborg.
Where it's available: Streaming on HBO [5]
Barry
In the Netflix biopic Barry, Anya plays Charlotte Baughman, Barack Obama's girlfriend during his time at Columbia University. Though Charlotte — a progressive classmate with silver spoon parents — could potentially be portrayed as one-dimensional, Anya has incredibly chemistry with Devon Terrell, who plays young Barack. Though Charlotte is no Michelle, her cunning and intelligence make her a formidable match for the future president.
Where it's available: Streaming on Netflix [6]
Split
In Split, Anya takes on the role of Casey Cook, one of three teenage girls who is kidnapped and imprisoned by a man with 23 distinct personalities. Though emotionally withdrawn and a victim of child molestation, Casey still resonates strength and resistance, making her an easy character to root for. We can't wait to see Anya reprise her role in Glass, scheduled to be released in 2019.
Where it's available: Streaming on Cinemax [7]
Thoroughbreds
Anya and Olivia Cooke star in this black comedy thriller as Lily and Amanda, childhood friends brought back together years later who hatch a plan to kill Anya's character's stepfather. As the polished and bookish Lily, Anya's performance is both hilarious and incredibly dark. We don't imagine playing a disaffected rich kid with homicidal tendencies is easy, but Anya acts as though she was born to play that role.
Where it's available: Streaming on Amazon [8]
Marrowbone
In Marrowbone, four siblings try to conceal the death of their mother in 1969 rural America while a sinister presence plagues their home. The oldest Marrowbone sibling, Jack — played by George MacKay — takes an interest in Anya's Allie, a neighbouring teen who befriends the family. Allie and George have incredible chemistry both on and off set, and we're convinced that if we lived next door to Anya, we wouldn't mind living in a haunted house all that much either.
Where it's available: Streaming on Amazon [9]