Anya Taylor-Joy explains why she avoids method acting despite her most demanding roles

Anya Taylor-Joy has earned praise for disappearing into complex characters, but the actress says there is one acting approach she has never embraced: method acting.

During a recent interview, the Queen’s Gambit and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga star explained why she believes maintaining a clear separation between herself and her characters allows her to be a better collaborator on set. She also shared why she thinks many women in the industry approach the craft differently.

Taylor-Joy says she has never been a method actor

Speaking with Complex News, Taylor-Joy described acting as an intense mental process but said she has never felt the need to remain in character once cameras stop rolling.

She likened acting to a “controlled psychosis,” explaining that performers temporarily take on another person’s thoughts, emotions and behaviors while still needing to maintain perspective.

Rather than completely immersing herself in a role around the clock, she prefers to strike a balance between preparation and everyday life.

Why she believes many women take a different approach

Taylor-Joy suggested that many women avoid method acting because they often continue managing responsibilities outside of work.

“If you’ll notice, women don’t method act because we have things to take care of, so we can’t completely lose our minds,” she said during the interview.

Her comments reflected her personal perspective on balancing demanding performances with the practical realities of daily life rather than serving as a universal statement about all actors.

Collaboration matters more than staying in character

For Taylor-Joy, acting is ultimately a collaborative process that requires performers to remain present for everyone involved in a production.

She explained that friends and family sometimes remind her to reconnect with herself if she becomes too immersed in a character while preparing for a role.

The actress also said remaining respectful and supportive of cast and crew is an important part of the job, adding that becoming overly invested in staying in character could make working together more difficult.

A career built on emotionally demanding performances

Taylor-Joy first gained widespread recognition for her breakout performance in Robert Eggers’ 2015 horror film The Witch before becoming an international star through Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit.

She has since taken on a wide variety of challenging roles, including performances in Last Night in Soho, The Menu and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

Despite the emotional intensity of those projects, she has consistently relied on preparation and collaboration rather than method acting.

Major franchise roles are next

Taylor-Joy’s busy schedule continues with several high-profile projects.

She is set to appear as Seren in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, which is currently in production ahead of its planned 2027 release.

She has also completed filming Dune: Part Three, reprising her role as Alia Atreides after briefly appearing in Dune: Part Two.

As her career continues to expand across major franchises, Taylor-Joy says maintaining balance remains central to the way she approaches every performance.

Featured Image: instagram.com/anyataylorjoy