Peaky Blinders actress Anya Taylor-Joy has lived a life almost as interesting as any of her on-screen characters.
The 25-year-old star - who is currently portraying Gina Gray, the scheming wife of Michael Gray -in season six of the hit BBC show.
Fans might also know her from roles as wide ranging as Thomasin in horror movie Split, Emma Woodhouse in an adaptation of Jane Austin's Emma or as the red-headed child chess prodigy in Netflix hit the Queen's Gambit.
Despite her huge success, Anya has previously admitted she did not feel she was conventionally attractive enough to ever become a star.
As well as lighting up screens, behind the scenes Anya enjoys a relatively quiet life - but boasts a rock star boyfriend.
The Mirror takes a look at Anya's secret life and incredible to rise to fame.
'Too weird-looking to be a star'
At the age of 16, Anya - who was born on the Golden Coast in Miami, Florida, and raised in Argentina - was discovered by a modelling scout in London, after relocating to the UK with her family.
She was outside Harrods department store in the capital when she was spotted by Sarah Doukas, the world famous model scout, who was also responsible for discovering Kate Moss.
The very next day, teenage Anya signed with the world famous Storm modelling agency.
Despite being all over the TV and winning awards for her roles, Anya has been riddled with self-doubt and said she never believed she was beautiful enough to be a star.
"I have never and I don’t think I will ever think of myself as beautiful," admitted the actress.
"I don’t think I’m beautiful enough to be in films. It sounds pathetic and my boyfriend warns me people will think I’m an absolute d*** for saying these things, but I just think I’m weird-looking.
"I won’t go to the cinema to watch my own film, I’ll watch it before. The beauty of being in your own skin is that you don’t have to look at your own face."
She concluded: "I genuinely had a panic attack on Emma because I thought, ‘I am the first ugly Emma and I can’t do this’, because the first line in the movie is, ‘I’m handsome, clever and rich’."
Rock star boyfriend
The award-winning actress is said to be dating 27-year-old rocker Malcom McRae, who fronts the band More.
He is part of a music duo with bandmate Kane Ritchotte, and they are a modern rock and roll act driven by a melodic guitar sound and are currently signed to Warner Records.
While Anya has kept hush on the romance, she and Malcom have been pictured plenty of times don't shy away from hiding their connection when spending time together in public.
Malcolm appeared to confirm rumours, though, as he shared a snap of Anya on his Instagram in which he said he was "besotted" with her.
Sharing an artistic snap of Anya, his caption read 'I'm besotted' as Anya responded with 'my love' and a kiss emoji.
Anya and Malcolm have a super low-key relationship, which is not surprising she wants to keep part of her live private, as she is such a huge star.
The pair reportedly now live together as it's claimed Malcolm moved into her Los Angeles home last summer.
A source told Daily Mail at the time: " Malcolm is practically living with her at her home in LA now and they spend every night together."
Their romance is moving from strength-to-strength as they took the next step in their relationship.
There's rumours she was previously engaged to Irish actor Eoin Macken in 2016, although it has not been confirmed by the star.
Cara Delevinge rumours
Since forging a friendship during lockdown bisexual model Cara is said to have been urging Anya to move to LA to be closer - but pals say no romance is on the cards as Anya is engaged
A source told the Mirror: "Cara thinks Anya is amazing and says she is deep and philosophical, but with a wicked sense of humour.
“They have a lot in common and have really intense conversations, but also laugh all the time.
'Cara and Anya have been hanging out a lot in LA and New York, but it’s tough to coordinate schedules.
“Anya has been busy filming in England and she owns a house in London, but Cara is trying to convince her to settle in Los Angeles so they can see more of each other.”
Anya's real accent
The actress' accent is "complicated" due to her moving around a lot when she was younger.
Anya grew up mostly speaking Spanish after her family moved to the capital of Argentina - Buenos Aires - when she was an infant.
When she was six-years-old, the family moved again to London - but it's claimed Anya was "traumatised" by that move and refused to speak English.
Anya's real accent is mostly London, but she can easily pick up other accents very quickly when visiting other countries.
According to fans on forum website Quora, Anya tends to unknowingly use other accents during interviews.
One fan shared an example, saying she tends to break into an Irish accent when speaking with Irish media.
Glittering showbiz career
Anya had the perfect strategy to take her to the top - as she knew at an early age that she wanted to be an actor.
At just five she declared her Hollywood dream, then at the age of seven she told her parents she wanted an agent.
Later, Anya became “a leading light” in early shows at a London prep school, before a high-profile modelling agency gave her a break.
Anya then moved into acting full-time and big movie roles came her way in The Witch and period drama Emma – while British TV fans saw her as the meddling American wife of Michael Gray in TV’s Peaky Blinders.
During lockdown, she became big after The Queen's Gambit was viewed by 62 million viewers.
But that was just the start of something really special for Anya, who recently filmed for The Northman in the Antrim Hills, half-an-hour north of Belfast.
Before that, another of her movies, the psychological thriller Last Night In Soho, is released.
Anya picked up between £100,000 and £200,000 for The Queen’s Gambit. But movie roles are expected to pay ten times that sum.
And while Hollywood directors clamour for her, she has also forged relationships with fashion houses, much like fellow star Emma Corrin, who plays Princess Diana in The Crown.
Like Emma, Anya has been working with designer Miu Miu and she is also the face of Viktor and Rolf fragrances. Anya’s free-spirited parents helped guide her to stardom.
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