When Anya Taylor-Joy Thought She’d Never Work Again After Her Role In This Movie: “I Was Devastated”

Anya Taylor-Joy—now a full-fledged Hollywood star—once feared that The Witch might be the end of her acting career. Hard to believe, right? Back in 2016, her haunting turn as Thomasin in Robert Eggers’ unsettling period horror earned widespread critical acclaim. Yet, behind the glowing reviews, Taylor-Joy was grappling with serious doubts about whether she’d ever work again.

How Anya Taylor-Joy Turned Her First Big-Screen Meltdown Into Motivation

“I thought I’d never work again,” she admitted on THR’s Awards Chatter podcast. Imagine that—her very first major film role, and she’s having a full-on crisis. The actress even had a meltdown when she saw the movie for the first time at Sundance. “Rob showed us the film maybe two hours before the audience screening, and I was devastated. I thought, ‘I’ve let down everyone I love.’” Yep, she was in tears. Who knew?

And let’s not sugarcoat it: watching yourself on the big screen for the first time is a weird experience for anyone. But Anya Taylor-Joy was too hard on herself. “I didn’t do it right. I just cried,” she says. And that’s honestly heartbreaking when you realize how much she brought to that role. But hey, that moment of doubt didn’t stop her—it turned into the fuel she needed to push forward.

Fast forward to today: Taylor-Joy is an absolute star. After The Witch, she leveled up with roles in Peaky Blinders and Glass. But 2020? That was her breakout moment. The Queen’s Gambit made her a household name; she was suddenly the actor everyone talked about. Awards buzz? Everywhere.

She’s far from a one-hit wonder. After Emma., she proved her range by stepping into the superhero world with The New Mutants and reuniting with Eggers for The Northman. Whether it’s a lavish period drama or a pulse-pounding modern thriller, Taylor-Joy slips into any role like she was born for it.

Anya Taylor-Joy went from questioning her place in the industry to becoming one of its most in-demand and versatile stars. What once felt like uncertainty has transformed into a career built on bold choices, confidence, and undeniable talent—a true example of turning doubt into unstoppable momentum.

Taylor-Joy’s journey proves it’s not about nailing your first shot—it’s about how you bounce back. Doubt will happen, setbacks will sting, but if you keep moving forward, you can turn fear into fuel. If she could push past The Witch meltdown, she could take on anything—and so can you.

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