Anya Taylor-Joy, the celebrated actress known for her roles in The Queen’s Gambit and The Menu, recently made headlines after being described as a “woman of color” following her Golden Globe win in 2021. The description, made by Variety, left many people on the internet confused and sparked a wave of reactions, particularly from those who felt it was inaccurate.
The Controversial Statement
Taylor-Joy, who was born in Miami to a Scottish-Argentine father and an English-Spanish mother, won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film for her role in The Queen’s Gambit. However, when Variety referred to her as a “woman of color,” many people questioned the characterization. The article stated: “Argentinian Taylor-Joy is the first woman of color to win this category since Queen Latifah in 2008.”
Writer Valerie Complex pointed out the issue on Twitter, saying, “I love her as an actress but THIS article has her listed as the FIRST WOMAN OF COLOR to win in this category and I legit give up.” The backlash on social media was swift, with many people stating that Taylor-Joy is not a woman of color, especially since she is white with some Latin American heritage.
Social Media Reactions
One social media user wrote, “Anya Taylor-Joy is very beautiful and very cool but she is not a woman of color.” Another added, “Anya Taylor-Joy is a woman of color?! Is this a f***ing joke?! She is white and she is from Latin America. There are white people here too.” Another reminded followers, “Friendly reminder that being Latina and being a woman of color is not always the same thing.”
In response to the growing confusion, Variety updated its article. A notice now reads: “UPDATED: This story has been updated. A previous version identified Anya Taylor-Joy as a person of color. She has said she identifies as a white Latina.”
Anya Taylor-Joy says she’s ‘aware of the fact she doesn’t look like a typical Latin person.’ Credit: @anyataylorjoy/Instagram
Anya Taylor-Joy’s Response
Taylor-Joy herself has addressed her background in interviews. She was raised in Argentina until the age of six before moving to the UK, and she is fluent in both English and Spanish. In a 2021 interview with Vulture, Taylor-Joy explained, “I’m aware of the fact I don’t look like a typical Latin person, and that’s not fair. I don’t want to be someone that you can just sub in for that role when I’m really white and blonde.”
The 29-year-old tragically took her own life. Credit: @saveafox_rescue/Instagram
The actress also expressed that she didn’t want to take roles away from Latina actresses, acknowledging the complexity of her identity and the challenges of navigating the conversation around race and representation in Hollywood.
Conclusion
This controversy highlights the ongoing conversation about racial identity and representation in the entertainment industry. While Taylor-Joy’s heritage is Argentine, her appearance and personal identity have led to a debate on how to define someone as a “woman of color.” The mixed reactions from fans and the media show the complexities of how ethnicity, race, and representation are viewed in today’s world.
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