She captivated fans with her performance as chess prodigy Beth Harmon in the hugely popular Netflix show The Queen’s Gambit.
And Anya Taylor-Joy has opened up about her newfound success since the series, explaining that she has ‘never experienced’ anything like it before.
Appearing on Friday’s episode of The Graham Norton Show via video link, the actress, 24, described seeing her face on a ‘giant billboard’ for the first time.
‘It was too much’: Appearing on Friday’s episode of The Graham Norton Show, Anya Taylor-Joy said she has ‘never experienced’ anything like her newfound success before
She admitted that after seeing herself on the huge advertisement in Los Angeles, she had to ‘walk away’ because she found the shock of it all to be ‘too much’.
She explained: ‘After quarantining I was still very jet-lagged so went for a walk at four in the morning and ended up on Sunset Boulevard and there was a giant billboard of my face.
‘I have never experienced that before in my life and promptly turned around and walked away because it was too much.’
The Netflix show has gained fans among both chess professionals, for the authenticity of the game strategies, and fashionistas for its stunning Sixties styling.
Success: The Queen’s Gambit star, 24, described seeing her face on a ‘giant billboard’ for the first time, saying he had to ‘walk away’ because she found the shock of it all to be ‘too much’
When asked by Graham, 57, why she thinks The Queen’s Gambit has been so successful, Anya said she thinks it is down to Beth’s ‘passion’ for chess.
She continued: ‘I think it is a few different things. It is a story of redemption and it’s nice to know you can overcome your demons in that way, but also passion is just exciting.
‘When you see how passionate she (Beth) is about chess it just draws you in. And it’s really pretty to look at.’
The Emma star also revealed that she binged-watched old series of The Great British Bake Off while filming the Netflix show.
Speaking to former Bake Off host Mel Giedroyc, who also appeared as a guest on the chat show, she explained that she had ‘clung’ to the baking show as being Beth was an ‘intense experience’.
Chess: The Queen’s Gambit has gained dedicated fans among both chess professionals, for the authenticity of the game strategies, and fashionistas for its stunning Sixties styling
Gushing over Mel, 52, Anya said: ‘Being in Beth’s headspace the whole time was quite an intense experience and I had never seen Bake Off before, so I clung to it for the whole time – I watched it from the very beginning, so you were right there with me the whole time.’
Last month, Anya revealed that she was star-struck on meeting Harry Potter favourite Harry Melling on the set of the chess series for the first time.
British actor Harry, 31, is seen on The Queen’s Gambit as Harry Beltik, a friend and one of Anya’s character Beth’ Harmon’s chess competitors in Kentucky.
However, Anya has admitted that she experienced her own fan girl moment when she met Harry, thanks to his role as Harry Potter’s spoiled cousin Dudley Dursley.
In an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, she admitted to leaving it just a few minutes before she let Harry know what a huge fan she was.
Acclaim: When asked by Graham, 57, why she thinks The Queen’s Gambit has been so successful, Anya said she thinks it is down to her character Beth’s ‘passion’ for chess
She said: ‘I timed it correctly, which is not in the first 10 minutes, but not exceeding 10 minutes…
‘You have to get it out of the way… [otherwise] it gets weird and then you kept something from them. So it’s better just to get it out of the way.’
Anya recently revealed that she ‘certainly’ would do a second season of hit Netflix show The Queen’s Gambit, based on a book by American author Walter Tevis.
In season one, the actress played Beth Harmon, a chess prodigy and orphan from Kentucky whose genius is never in doubt.
Speaking to Town & Country, Anya said: ‘If I’ve learned anything from being in this industry, it’s never say never.
Fan-girl: Last month, Anya revealed that she was star-struck on meeting Harry Potter favourite Harry Melling on the set of the chess series for the first time
‘I adore the character, and I would certainly come back if I was asked to, but I do think we leave Beth in a good place.
‘I think the rest of her life will surely be an adventure as well, but in the quest that she goes on in this to find some form of peace, just some form of being able to be happy with who she is. I think it ends in a nice place.’
The Queen’s Gambit is one of the oldest known chess openings, and is the moved used by Beth at the conclusion of the seven-part series.
Anya was joined by Regina King, Jimmy Fallon, Olly Alexander, Mel Giedroyc and Yungblud on the Graham Norton Show.
The Graham Norton Show airs on Friday at 10:45pm on BBC One and all episodes are available on BBC iPlayer.
Returning? Anya recently revealed that she ‘certainly’ would do a second season of hit Netflix show The Queen’s Gambit, based on a book by American author Walter Tevis