Anya Taylor-Joy’s Identity Sparks Debate After Being Called a ‘Woman of Color’ Post-Award Win
Award-winning actress Anya Taylor-Joy has been at the center of an online debate after being described as a “woman of color” following a major win at the Golden Globes. The classification, originally published by Variety, sparked widespread confusion and criticism across social media, reigniting important conversations around ethnicity, racial identity, and the meaning of cultural labels.
Anya Taylor-Joy was described as a ‘woman of color’ after an award win and it’s left the internet confused. Credit: @anyataylorjoy/Instagram
Taylor-Joy rose to international acclaim for her portrayal of Beth Harmon in Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit, earning her a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film in 2021. Her critically acclaimed performances in The Menu, Last Night in Soho, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie have only further established her as one of Hollywood’s most versatile stars.
However, after her Golden Globe victory, Variety referred to Taylor-Joy as the “first woman of color” to win in that category since Queen Latifah in 2008. The statement continued: “Argentinian Taylor-Joy is the first woman of color to win this category since Queen Latifah in 2008 and only the fifth woman of color to win overall since 1982 when the category was introduced.”
This unexpected classification quickly caught the attention of writer Valerie Complex, who posted a screenshot of the statement on Twitter, expressing frustration. “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,” she wrote.
The tweet triggered a flurry of responses from users across various platforms, with many questioning the accuracy of labeling Taylor-Joy as a woman of color given her appearance and background.
Many people took to social media and shared their thoughts after Anya Taylor-Joy was described as a ‘woman of a color.’ Credit: @anyataylorjoy/Instagram
One user commented: “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. Latin American is not an ethnicity, in any case, it makes reference to a geographical or cultural area.”
Another response read: “Friendly reminder that being Latina and being a woman of color is not always the same thing. Congrats to Anya Taylor-Joy (Argentina) for her Golden Globe win and for speaking up.”
Following the backlash, Variety updated the article to better reflect the actress’s own perspective. A correction now states: “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
Taylor-Joy was born in Miami, Florida, to a Scottish-Argentine father, Dennis Alan Taylor, and a mother of English and Spanish descent, Jennifer Marina Joy. She spent her early childhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina, before relocating to the United Kingdom at age six. She is bilingual in English and Spanish, and her cultural background has long played a role in her sense of identity.
In an interview with Vulture, Taylor-Joy addressed her upbringing and how she sees herself. She acknowledged that she does not look like what many expect from someone of Latin American heritage, stating: “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 take up space from actresses who do look like that.”
Her remarks reflect an increasingly relevant and complex conversation around ethnicity and representation—especially for individuals from multicultural backgrounds who may not fit conventional racial categories.
The incident highlights how cultural identity remains a deeply nuanced issue. Ethnicity is not solely defined by geography, ancestry, or language—it also intersects with societal perceptions of race, color, and lived experience. In Taylor-Joy’s case, while she identifies as Latina due to her Argentine upbringing and heritage, she simultaneously recognizes her white identity and the privilege that comes with it.
As the entertainment industry continues to push for better representation and inclusion, the ways in which identity is discussed and defined remain under close scrutiny. The conversation around Anya Taylor-Joy is a reminder of the need for precision, empathy, and inclusivity in language—especially when discussing individuals with multifaceted cultural backgrounds.
Source:
Irish Medical Journal via IGV Official & Variety