Anya Taylor-Joy’s meteoric rise to stardom has been nothing short of impressive. From her breakout role in The Witch to her globally acclaimed performance as Beth Harmon in Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit, Taylor-Joy has carved a distinct place in modern Hollywood. With undeniable screen presence, fluency in both English and Spanish, and a growing list of successful projects under her belt, she has become one of the most recognizable young actresses in film and television.

But following her 2021 Golden Globe win, headlines quickly shifted from celebrating her performance to debating her identity. A media outlet described Taylor-Joy as a “woman of color”—a label that sparked confusion, criticism, and a broader conversation on identity, ethnicity, and what it means to be Latina in a multicultural world.

Video: Hozier – Dinner & Diatribes (Official Video)

The Award Win That Set the Internet Buzzing

In 2021, Anya Taylor-Joy won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film for her portrayal of the genius chess prodigy in The Queen’s Gambit. It was a significant moment—not just for her career, but also for representation in Hollywood.

Shortly after the win, Variety published an article referring to her as a “woman of color,” stating she was the first to win that category since Queen Latifah in 2008. The intent may have been to highlight diversity, but the response on social media was swift and skeptical.

Social Media Pushback and Misunderstanding

The description left many online scratching their heads. “Anya Taylor-Joy is very talented, but she’s not a woman of color,” one user tweeted. Another chimed in, “Being Latina doesn’t automatically make someone a person of color.”

The criticism snowballed, fueled by confusion around terms like “Latina,” “white,” and “woman of color.” Some pointed out that Latin America is a culturally diverse region, encompassing a wide range of racial and ethnic backgrounds—including white Latin Americans, Afro-Latinos, Indigenous communities, and more.

Anya Taylor-Joy, with her fair skin, blonde hair, and European features, didn’t fit the typical American perception of what a “woman of color” looks like. That visual dissonance, combined with an editorial misstep, led to a wider online debate that quickly went viral.

Video: The Witch | Official Trailer HD

Ancestry, Identity, and Public Perception

Taylor-Joy was born in Miami, Florida, to a Scottish-Argentine father and an English-Spanish mother. She spent her early childhood in Argentina before moving to the United Kingdom. She identifies as Latina, is fluent in Spanish, and has publicly discussed her connection to Argentine culture.

In an interview, she clarified, “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 be someone that you can just sub in for that role when I’m really white and blonde.”

That honest admission resonated with many. Taylor-Joy wasn’t claiming an identity she didn’t hold—she was acknowledging the nuances of being a white Latina and the privilege that can come with that, especially in a Hollywood landscape where roles for Latin American actresses are already scarce.

Latina vs. Woman of Color: What’s the Difference?

Part of the confusion comes from the broad umbrella under which terms like “Latina” and “woman of color” fall. While Latina is often used to describe people from Latin America or with Latin American heritage, it doesn’t denote race. A Latina can be white, Black, Indigenous, or mixed-race.

In contrast, “woman of color” has historically referred to non-white women—those who face systemic discrimination due to race. In the U.S., it’s often used to highlight underrepresented groups in industries like entertainment, media, and politics.

Labeling Taylor-Joy—a fair-skinned, white-presenting actress—as a woman of color not only misrepresented her racial background but also blurred lines in a conversation already fraught with oversimplification and assumptions.

Video: Anya Taylor-Joy understood the assignment

Variety’s Retraction and Clarification

Amid the growing backlash, Variety updated its article. A note now appears on the page, reading: “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.”

The correction helped temper some of the controversy, but the larger conversation about identity, ethnicity, and media representation continues to evolve.

The Larger Implications in Hollywood

This moment wasn’t just about Anya Taylor-Joy. It was about how Hollywood and the media define diversity. It revealed a need for more informed, nuanced conversations around ethnicity—especially in a time when inclusion is such a dominant cultural goal.

Representation matters. But it also needs to be accurate. When labels are assigned carelessly, they can undermine the very diversity they aim to celebrate. Anya Taylor-Joy may be Latina by culture and heritage, but that doesn’t make her a woman of color in racial terms. Understanding that distinction helps avoid erasing the lived experiences of actresses who face barriers specifically because of their race.

Video: Anya Taylor Joy called woman of color

Anya Taylor-Joy’s Continued Rise

Despite the brief controversy, Taylor-Joy’s career remains on a sharp upward trajectory. In recent years, she’s starred in major projects like The Menu, Last Night in Soho, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, showcasing her range and versatility. Her performances continue to earn acclaim, and she remains one of the most in-demand actresses of her generation.

What’s perhaps most admirable is how she handled the situation—with clarity and humility. She acknowledged the mistake, respected the conversation it sparked, and kept the focus on her work.

Anya Taylor-Joy’s Golden Globe win should have been a straightforward celebration of talent. Instead, it became a case study in how media representation, identity, and terminology intersect—and sometimes clash. Her experience highlights the need for cultural literacy, especially in conversations about race and ethnicity.

She didn’t claim a title that wasn’t hers. She stood by her truth as a white Latina, aware of the responsibilities and privileges that identity holds. And in doing so, she offered a masterclass in navigating a sensitive issue with grace.

As Taylor-Joy continues to shine on screen, this chapter adds depth to her story—reminding us that identity is complex, words matter, and real conversations require both precision and empathy.