Renowned actress Anya Taylor-Joy has been candid about her preference for scenes that capture the true emotions of her characters, particularly their rage, as opposed to traditional crying sequences.
In her conversation with British GQ, the 28-year-old reflected on her career and her inclination to portray characters whose reactions mirror authentic human responses—including anger.
“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,” she shared. “We have reactions that are not always dainty or un-messy.”
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Her advocacy for depicting women’s anger began with her first feature film, The Witch. Instead of crying as the script suggested, Taylor-Joy convinced the director to allow her character Thomasin to exhibit anger when wrongfully accused at her family home.
“Eventually I said, ‘She’s angry; she’s f-cking pissed. She’s been blamed time and time again, and she’s not doing anything. We have to stop with the calling,’” she elaborated.
Her proposal to change a crying scene to one of aggression also occurred during the filming of The Menu, convincing director Mark Mylod and co-star Nicholas Hoult that her character would not just shed a tear but would react violently when she learns about her date’s lethal plans for her.
In The Northman, Taylor-Joy suggested a powerful and symbolic act of defiance which was accepted by director Robert Eggers, making the scene unforgettable.
Despite her stance, she confirms that she is not an inherently angry person, admitting that she used to feel guilty rather than angry when treated poorly.
In her upcoming performance in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Taylor-Joy again embraced her character’s fury, albeit some of her ideas, such as a scene involving tongue-cutting, did not make it to the final cut of the film.
The article also teases information about the cast of Dune: Messiah.
FAQs About Anya Taylor-Joy and Her Portrayal of Female Rage in Movies
Q: What is Anya Taylor-Joy’s approach to acting in intense emotional scenes?
A: Anya Taylor-Joy prefers to show her characters expressing rage and anger over sadness and tears, as she believes it portrays women as full-fledged human beings with natural, complex reactions.
Q: Can you provide an example of how Anya has changed a crying scene in her movies?
A: In her first feature film, The Witch, she convinced the director to let her character express anger and frustration instead of crying as originally scripted.
Q: Has Anya Taylor-Joy always been successful in changing scenes to express rage?
A: While she has been successful on various occasions, such as in The Menu and The Northman, there have been times when her ideas, like cutting out a character’s tongue, were filmed but not included in the theatrical release.
Q: Does Anya Taylor-Joy identify herself as an angry person?
A: No, she clarifies that she is not an angry person by nature. She used to internalize issues, assuming she was at fault when others treated her badly.
Conclusion
Anya Taylor-Joy’s initiatives to represent female characters with the full spectrum of human emotions, particularly rage, highlight her dedication to authentic storytelling. She challenges conventional crying tropes, advocating for scenes that reflect a woman’s capacity for a fierce and complex emotional response. Her determination to illustrate women’s strength and humanity through her artistry provides a refreshing perspective in an industry that often defaults to stereotypical expressions of femininity. As Taylor-Joy continues to navigate her career, audiences can expect to see more compelling and nuanced portrayals of female characters on screen.