In a virtual press conference from Los Angeles, alongside co-star Drew Starkey, Anya Taylor-Joy unveiled the details of her latest project, the Apple TV+ series Lucky. Based on Marissa Stapley's best-selling novel, the seven-episode mini-series follows a woman on the run after a heist gone wrong, hunted by both the FBI and a local mafia boss. Taylor-Joy, who rose to global fame with The Queen’s Gambit in 2020, brings her signature intensity and vulnerability to a character that is equal parts manipulator and survivor.
The 30-year-old actress, known for her striking features and ability to embody deeply unique individuals, spoke about what drew her to the role of Lucky. “I think at heart, the feminist in me was a bit frustrated to see so many morally ambiguous men in cinema and relatively few women given that same complexity,” she said. “I want them to be treated the same. Lucky is a profoundly human character. I fell in love with her when I read the original novel. Then I thought, ‘I think I can really bring something to this story.’”
Taylor-Joy described Lucky as a cat repeatedly plunged into boiling water, always keeping her head just above the surface and barely surviving. This sense of constant peril is palpable throughout the series, which blends high-octane action with psychological tension. The actress, who also serves as an executive producer through her company Ladykiller, emphasized the collaborative process behind the adaptation, noting that author Marissa Stapley was incredibly supportive of the changes made for the screen.
When asked if she sees any of herself in Lucky, Taylor-Joy reflected on her own empathy. “I have always been a very empathetic person. Like her, I perceive emotions instinctively. But I think what sets us apart is a certain cynicism that I simply do not have and do not want to inherit. I believe in the goodness of people and that they can change.” This perspective informs her character, who must constantly read and manipulate others to stay alive, yet retains a kernel of hope underneath her hardened exterior.
The series marks a departure from the typical glamorous con artist stories seen in films like Ocean's Eleven. Taylor-Joy was particularly interested in exploring someone who is unable to stay still, constantly moving to survive, and who must harm others out of necessity. “That’s a dimension I had never seen on screen before, and it’s precisely the reason I wanted to bring this heroine to life,” she explained.
Filming took place shortly after the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, and the production team was determined to give back to the city. “It was something very beautiful,” Taylor-Joy noted. “There was talk of moving the shoot elsewhere, but the entire production team was deeply committed to giving something back to this city that had given us so much.” This sense of community and resilience mirrored the themes of survival at the heart of Lucky.
As an executive producer, Taylor-Joy was involved in every aspect of the creative process, from script development to casting and production design. “With my company Ladykiller, I can fully invest in the subjects that passion me. I’m interested in every stage of creation. I don’t just want to know why something works; I also need to understand how. That’s the part I find most stimulating. If I participate in all these upstream discussions, I can then arrive on set and completely let go, because all the preparatory work has already been done.” This level of involvement allowed her to leave her personal mark on the project, elevating the material beyond the page.
Taylor-Joy’s career has been marked by a series of bold choices, from the chess prodigy Beth Harmon to the quirky heroine of Emma and the mutated mutant in The New Mutants. Her ability to convey complex emotions with minimal dialogue has made her a standout in Hollywood. In Lucky, she effortlessly switches between feigned innocence and cold calculation, keeping audiences guessing about her true intentions. Co-star Drew Starkey, known for Outer Banks, praised her instincts on set, noting that she brings a rare depth to every scene.
The series also features an impressive supporting cast, including Annette Bening, Timothy Olyphant, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor. Bening plays a determined FBI agent tracking Lucky, adding another layer of tension to the cat-and-mouse narrative. The cinematography captures the vast American landscape, from dusty desert roads to neon-lit diners, creating a road-trip atmosphere that contrasts with the relentless chase.
Jonathan Tropper, the showrunner and creator of the series, adapted the novel with Taylor-Joy’s input. He described the adaptation as “very loosely based” on the book, aiming to expand the character’s backstory and motivations. “Anya brought a raw authenticity to Lucky that we didn’t know was possible,” Tropper said. “She fought for the character’s complexity, and the result is a heroine you both root for and question.”
Taylor-Joy’s take on Lucky is also a reflection of her own growth as a performer. After the immense success of The Queen’s Gambit, she deliberately sought roles that would challenge her both physically and emotionally. “I wanted to do something that required a different kind of energy. Lucky is always on the run, always in survival mode. That demanded a lot from me body-wise, but also emotionally, because you’re constantly in a state of high stakes.”
One of the most compelling aspects of the series is its exploration of identity and reinvention. Lucky uses multiple aliases and personas to evade capture, which allowed Taylor-Joy to showcase her range. “Each alias represents a different version of Lucky—a different way she adapts to the people around her. That was fascinating to play because it’s like playing multiple characters within one.”
The series premieres on Apple TV+ on July 23, and early buzz suggests it could be one of the standout shows of the summer. Critics have praised its taut pacing, strong performances, and unflinching look at the cost of survival. Taylor-Joy hopes that audiences will connect with Lucky’s humanity despite her flaws. “We all have moments where we feel trapped and have to make difficult choices. I think that’s universal. What matters is not the mistakes we make, but what we learn from them.”
In addition to her acting, Taylor-Joy continues to expand her production company Ladykiller, which focuses on female-driven stories with strong points of view. She is also set to star in the upcoming film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, where she will play a younger version of Charlize Theron’s iconic character. With a slate of projects that defy categorization, Taylor-Joy is proving that she is not just a chameleon on screen but also a savvy creative force behind the scenes.
As Lucky reaches viewers worldwide, it stands as a testament to Taylor-Joy’s dedication to complex storytelling. Her performance is both a tour de force and a subtle study of a woman trying to outrun her past. In an interview filled with insight, she summed up her approach: “I want to create characters that make people feel something. Whether that’s admiration, anger, or pity, if they feel, then I’ve done my job.”
Source: MSN News