Anya Taylor-Joy Says She Fights for Depictions of Female Rage: "I Am Promoting Women Being Seen as People"

"We have reactions that are not always dainty or unmessy."

Anya Taylor-Joy wearing archival Paco Rabanne to the 'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga' premiere in Sydney, Australia May 2024
(Image credit: Getty Images)

From her breakout role in The Witch to The Queen's Gambit to the fierce, titular rebel in the new release Furiosa, Anya Taylor-Joy has built a career playing characters she describes as having a sense of "defiance." In a new British GQ cover story, Taylor-Joy opened up about becoming a proponent for depicting "feminine rage" on screen—making suggestions to directors that feel more true to her characters.

"I've developed a bit of a reputation for fighting for feminine rage, which is a strange thing, because I’m not promoting violence—but I am promoting women being seen as people. We have reactions that are not always dainty or unmessy," the actress told the outlet.

She added, "What I’m coming to understand is: as long as you’re not causing anyone else harm, you have to stand your ground."

anya taylor joy as thomasin in the witch

Anya Taylor-Joy in The Witch.

(Image credit: A24)

The Golden Globe winner spoke candidly about how long she's advocated for women to have no-holds-barred reactions on screen. She explained that it began while filming her first lead role in a feature in Robert Eggers' 2015 modern classic horror movie The Witch. Taylor-Joy was directed to cry in a scene where her character Thomasin, accused of being a witch terrorizing her family in colonial-era New England, is dragged outside her home.

She told British QQ, "Eventually I said, ‘She’s angry; she’s f--king pissed. She’s been blamed time and time again, and she’s not doing anything. We have to stop with the crying."

Eggers listened, and the star was more than pleased with the film's outcome, which sees Thomasin embracing the supernatural—or as another character says, living "deliciously." Taylor-Joy added, "I feel so happy for her. Girl, fly, do your thing. Live deliciously, you’ve earned it. This world is not for you ... I love the ending of that film."

While collaborating with Eggers again on 2022's The Northman, Taylor-Joy also had suggestions about how her character Olga would respond to a man touching her without consent. Eggers told British GQ that she made a "very strong, defiant, and memorable choice," saying, "It was Anya’s idea for Olga to douse her hand with her own menstrual blood before slapping Fjölnir in the face."

anya taylor joy in the menu

Anya Taylor-Joy in The Menu.

(Image credit: Searchlight Pictures)

Taylor-Joy also reflected on a scene in the 2022 thriller The Menu in which she disagreed completely with what was written in the screenplay for how her character would respond when she found out her date (played by Nicholas Hoult) had brought her somewhere, knowing they would die. She was supposed to shed a single tear, but director Mark Mylod and her costar agreed to let her follow her instincts.

"What planet are we living on?" she said. "I was like, ‘Let me explain to you: I am going to leap across the table and try and literally kill him with my bare hands."

anya taylor joy in furiosa

Anya Taylor-Joy in Furiosa.

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

On Furiosa, the highly anticipated prequel of legendary director George Miller's Mad Max franchise (out in cinemas on May 24), Taylor-Joy got even more in touch with her defiance.

"For all my championing of female rage, I’ve never been an angry person," she told British GQ. "For a long time the only time I ever got angry was on other people’s behalfs. I’ve always internalized this thing of 'I've done something wrong. If you treat me badly, it's because I am the problem.'"

The Emmy-nominated star continued, "And I'm so grateful for Furiosa, because there was a real moment where I started getting angry for myself. My husband was like, 'I’ve never heard you be like this.' I was like, 'I'm glad! I'm glad that I'm angry!' If someone steps on me now I’m like, 'Hey, f--k you!' That makes me feel good."

Sadie Bell
Senior Culture Editor

Sadie Bell is the Senior Culture Editor at Marie Claire, where she edits, writes, and helps to ideate stories across movies, TV, books, and music, from interviews with talent to pop culture features and trend stories. She has a passion for uplifting rising stars, and a special interest in cult-classic movies, emerging arts scenes, and music. She has over eight years of experience covering pop culture and her byline has appeared in Billboard, Interview Magazine, NYLON, PEOPLE, Rolling Stone, Thrillist and other outlets.

Read more
a collage of movie stills from the substance the last showgirl and nightbitch organized in what looks like film reels
Thanks to Female Filmmakers, Hollywood Is Having Conversations—and Making Great Art—About the Complexities of Women Aging
A woman (Susan Chardy as Shula) stands outdoors in the morning, with a man covered in sanitary pads behind her (right), in 'On Becoming a Guinea Fowl.'
'On Becoming a Guinea Fowl' Is a Revolutionary Call to Speak Up Against Female Abuse
Anya Taylor-Joy
Anya Taylor-Joy Revives the No-Pants Trend in a Celine Cape and Skintight Micro-Shorts
SHP
Salma Runs the Show
cazzie david poses against a wall with vines while wearing a black blazer and white shirt underneath
Cazzie David Spent Five Years Fighting to Make an "Anti-Rom-Com" About Emotional Abuse
Anya Taylor-Joy
Anya Taylor-Joy Soars in a Dior Cape Dress and Sabrina Carpenter-Inspired Backwards Necklace
Latest in Movies
A man (Graham Hornigold) sits in a professional kitchen as a woman in a hat, sunglasses, and fur coat stands behind him, holding a champagne glass with her other hand on his shoulder. Concept art from the Netflix documentary 'Con Mum.'
Where Is Graham Hornigold Now? What We Know About the 'Con Mum' Subject
john malkovich stands behind ayo edebiri taking notes in a still from opus
In 'Opus,' Cult Leaders and Pop Stars Are One in the Same
A woman (Susan Chardy as Shula) stands outdoors in the morning, with a man covered in sanitary pads behind her (right), in 'On Becoming a Guinea Fowl.'
'On Becoming a Guinea Fowl' Is a Revolutionary Call to Speak Up Against Female Abuse
Simone Ashley as Pia and Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Charlie in 'Picture This'
'Picture This' Stars Simone Ashley and Hero Fiennes Tiffin Play 'How Well Do You Know Your Co-Star?'
Doja Cat, RAYE, and LISA stand on stage at the 2025 Oscars.
LISA, Doja Cat, and Raye Perform a Glamorous 'James Bond' Tribute at the 2025 Oscars
Mikey Madison accepts the award for Best Actress at the 2025 Oscars.
'Anora' Star Mikey Madison Takes Home the Best Actress Award at the 2025 Oscars in a Surprise Win
Latest in News
Meghan Markle in a beige shirt on stage at SXSW in March 2024
Meghan Markle and Gwyneth Paltrow Open Up About Their "Rift" Over Pie
Bella Hadid carries the Coach empire bag in New York City with a black mini dress
Bella Hadid Secures Coach's Must-Have Empire Bag, Just Like I Predicted She Would
Selena Gomez wears a cropped blazer and matching trousers while attending the Drew Barrymore show in New York City
Selena Gomez Is the Cropped Blazer Trend's Final Boss
Princess Madeleine of Sweden wearing a tiara featuring emeralds
Why Princess Madeleine of Sweden Can't Use Her Royal Title to Promote Her New Skincare Line
Rihanna in a head scarf and multiple necklaces
Rihanna’s Jamaica Manicure Will Unite the Caribbean
Queen Camilla has blonde hair and is wearing a dark green shirt dress
Why Queen Camilla Has Been Issued a "Strict" Warning Regarding Her Meeting With the Pope