When The Queen’s Gambit premiered in 2020, it didn’t just become one of Netflix’s most-watched limited series of all time—it became a cultural phenomenon.

At the center of its success was Anya Taylor-Joy, whose portrayal of chess prodigy Beth Harmon transformed what could have been a niche story into a global obsession.

Taylor-Joy brought a haunting intensity to Beth, a young orphan battling addiction, loneliness, and her own brilliance as she rose to dominate the male-dominated world of competitive chess.

With her piercing eyes and carefully nuanced performance, she gave life to a character who was as fragile as she was formidable. Audiences weren’t just watching a woman play chess—they were witnessing an inner battle between genius and self-destruction.

What made Anya’s performance extraordinary was her ability to make chess itself thrilling. With a mere tilt of her head, a flicker of her gaze, or the quiet confidence of her posture at the board, she turned every match into a high-stakes war.

Critics praised her as the heartbeat of the series, capable of carrying not only the character’s pain and triumph but also the show’s atmospheric, stylish storytelling.

The role solidified Anya Taylor-Joy as one of the defining actresses of her generation. The Queen’s Gambit wasn’t just a triumph for Netflix or for chess—it was a breakthrough moment that turned Anya into a household name, celebrated for bringing depth, elegance, and vulnerability to a role that captivated the entire world.