Anya Taylor-Joy
Taylor-Joy in 2015, photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Anya-Josephine Taylor-Joy
Place of Birth: Miami, Florida, U.S.
Date of Birth: April 16, 1996
Ethnicity: English, Scottish, Spanish
Anya Taylor-Joy is an Argentinian and British actress and model. She is known for starring in the films The Witch and Split, among others. She was born in Miami, Florida, then grew up in Argentina, and moved to London, England, at age six. Her name Anya is Russian.
Anya’s father Dennis was raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, by his English-born father and Buenos Aires-born mother, both of whom were of Scottish and English descent.
Anya has stated that her mother was born and raised in Zambia, in Africa, and “is from both London, England and Zaragoza, Spain.” It is not clear from these descriptions if her mother is of mixed Spanish and English ancestry, or has citizenship or residency in multiple countries. A picture of Anya with her mother can be seen here.
Anya’s paternal grandfather was Alfred Royal Taylor (the son of Henry William Taylor and Janette/Jeannette Liddle McDonald). Alfred was born in Romford, Essex, England, and lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Henry was the son of John Taylor and Caroline Howell. Janette was born in Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland, the daughter of William Robertson and Jessie McDonald.
Anya’s paternal grandmother was Violet Mary Forrest (the daughter of Alexander Gibson Forrest and Mabel Carter). Violet was born in Buenos Aires. Alexander was born in Pettinain, Lanark, Scotland, the son of George Forrest and Mary MacMinn/McMinn. Mabel was born in Reading, England, the daughter of George Thomas Carter and Annie Wheeler.
Anya has said:
…the political situation in Argentina was getting so dire that they wanted their children to grow up in an environment without fear. We all really resented them for [leaving Argentina] and now we look back, we’re like thank you so much because they gave us such an opportunity in life.
Her maternal grandparents live in Zaragoza, Spain.
Sources: http://www.interviewmagazine.com
http://www.goldenglobes.com
https://www.youtube.com
Anya’s paternal grandfather, Alfred Royal Taylor, on the 1911 England and Wales Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Birth record of Anya’s paternal great-grandfather, Alexander Gibson Forrest – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Anya’s paternal great-great-grandparents, George Thomas Carter and Annie Wheeler – https://www.familysearch.org
paternal grandparents researched by follers
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anya_Taylor-Joy
“Her father was awarded an MBE in the 1982 New Year Honours (for services to the British community in Buenos Aires) and an OBE in 1998 (for services to British trade with Argentina)”
Her fathers name is Dennis Alan Taylor, I think he was born in Argentina to Scottish parents.
That makes sense. It looks like it’s first generational.
What a super weird and confusing way to describe one’s ancestry. None of it makes sense/is clear.
She is just a British/Spanish mix under an ethnic point of view. Simple.
“My mother is from London, England and from Zaragoza, Spain, she was born and raised in Africa, in Zambia. My dad is Scottish-Argentine from Buenos Aires.”
https://www.culturalweekly.com/anya-taylor-joy/
That makes sense, her mom is Spanish (from Spain) and English and her dad is Scottish from Argentina.
She may be 75% British 25% Spanish, even though I am not convinced about an Argentine with 100% Scottish ancestry.
There were plenty of white people in Zambia-Rhodesia back then so her tale makes sense.
I don’t know what you mean, but there are people who have just European background living in Argentine. Argentine has a very high European population. Or do you mean the dad is of other European background?
I dont think her father is 100% Scottish, unless he is a recent immigrant to Argentina.
I have noticed it’s also regional. There are places in Argentine where it’s pretty secluded/have high (enter European country) population. This is usually southern parts. Northern Argentine is a lot less homogenous.
Yes, like Welsh enclaves in Patagonia.
It turns out he is indeed fully Scottish/English and has parents/grandparents straight from England and Scotland.
So it seems she is 75% British and 25% Spanish if her mother is an English/Spanish mix instead of fully Spanish.
You probably don’t know about this because you’re not argentinian, but Anya is from a pretty wealthy family, she assisted to a british school and her dad is a banker. There are historical ties between the elite of Buenos Aires and British people and culture, gathered communities are full of british schools and rugby players. It could sound weirder if she was an average citizen because British immigration here was not as common as Italian or Spanish, but considering her economic and social situation it just makes sense. I can’t stay if she has recent ancestry or not but you probably know immigration in the XX was the strongest one.
Stat*
Yes, Argies with some British/Irish ancestry stand in mid-upper class sectors of society. You cited rugby and I think to the classist tweets of Pablo Matera and all the shistorm after.