Anya Taylor-Joy recollects being bullied for her looks as a child
Los Angeles, June 19
Hollywood actress Anya Taylor-Joy has shared that she was bullied at school for not being beautiful, before she went on to bag a modelling contract at the age of 16.
The 30-year-old actress is known for her unique beauty, and has made a name for herself as one of Hollywood's most up and coming leading ladies, reports 'Female First UK'.
However, as she was growing up, her appearance didn't earn her fans, especially when she went to school.
As per 'Female First UK', she recalled how she moved from Argentina to England at six years old, and quickly had a shock when she was branded a lesbian and frozen out by her classmates after kissing a fellow student on the cheek.
After this, the children told her consistently that she "wasn't beautiful". Despite the bullying, the actress went on to initially make a name for herself as a model when she was a teenager, although she was only ever interested in using modelling as a stepping point to get into acting.
Preparing for a party the next day, a 16-year-old Anya walked along the street to practise being steady in stilettos, at which point a car pulled up beside her and a man leaned out and said "If you don't stop, you'll regret it".
When she got in the car, she found Sarah Doukas, the head of modelling agency Storm, inside. Faced with the prospect of a contract, she told Sarah,, "I have no interest in modelling, other than I hear that sometimes models become actors. And that's what I want to do with my life".
While she made her onscreen debut in 'The Witch', and went on to star in movies such as Glass and Thoroughbreds, it was the Netflix series The Queen's Gambit that turned her into a household name. She played Beth in the chess drama, and said of the role: Sometimes you feel like a character is ahead of you.
She told 'The Hollywood Reporter', "Sometimes you feel like you're both exactly at the same place. But with Beth, I had experiences in my own life where I just thought, 'Oh, I can sort of big sister you through this'".
After it hit screens in 2020, The Queen's Gambit became one of the most-watched shows in Netflix history.
"It was one of those beautiful moments", she added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's really sad how kids can be so cruel. Bullying leaves such deep scars, but it's inspiring to see how she turned that negativity into fuel for success. The Queen's Gambit was fantastic - truly a role that defined her career.
It's ironic na - the same kids who bullied her for not being "beautiful" probably now see her on big screens and regret their words. But the real lesson here is about inner strength. Indian parents should teach kids that looks don't define a person's worth.
The part about walking in stilettos at 16 and getting discovered is pure Hollywood magic! But honestly, the bullying story resonates globally. We need to teach our kids kindness over cruelty. Anya's journey from bullied girl to celebrated actress is proof that beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder - and in her talent.
Bahut inspiring story hai! Lekin ek baat - yeh sab "beauty standards" ka pressure Indian girls pe bhi toh hai. School mein fair skin, sharp features ke liye taane milte hain. Anya ne dikhaya ki individual beauty matters, not what society thinks. Queen's Gambit dekhni chahiye sabko! ♟️✨
It's amazing how she used modeling just as a stepping stone to acting - shows real determination. The bullying part hits hard though. As a parent, I worry about how social media has made this kind of appearance-based bullying even worse today. We need to do better for our children.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.