Taylor Russell
Russell at the 2018 WonderCon
Born
Taylor Russell McKenzie

(1994-07-18) July 18, 1994 (age 29)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
OccupationActress
Years active2012–present

Taylor Russell McKenzie (born July 18, 1994) is a Canadian actress. She has starred in the Netflix science fiction series Lost in Space (2018–2021). In film, she has starred in the critically acclaimed drama Waves (2019), for which she was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female, and the horror film Escape Room (2019) and its 2021 sequel. For starring as a cannibalistic teenager in the road film Bones and All (2022), Russell won the Marcello Mastroianni Award. On stage, Russell has starred in the play The Effect by Lucy Prebble in 2023.

Early life

Taylor Russell McKenzie was born on July 18, 1994, in the small community of Deep Cove, North Vancouver,[1] located near Vancouver, British Columbia. Russell was raised in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal.[2][3] She has an older brother and a younger brother.[1] Russell, who was born to a white mother and a black father of Jamaican[1] descent, grew up mostly with her mother's side of the family. She recalled that growing up she felt unaccepted by her peers due to the color of her skin.[4] Her parents faced financial struggles, leading the family to rely on welfare,[5] and they were frequently compelled to relocate, uprooting their lives a total of sixteen times to accommodate her father's professional pursuits. Russell also began working at the age of 13.[6] Despite this adversity, Russell mentioned how in her younger years "there was always an opportunity for reinvention, to create something new.”[7][3]

As a child, Russell was artistically inclined. She strived to pursue a career in ballet, and later as a painter.[8] At eighteen, Russell took her first acting class, which led her to become interested in pursuing acting. She used her work savings to buy a car, and would drive to Los Angeles to audition. When money ran out, she would return home to work until she had enough earnings to audition again.[3] Some of the jobs that Russell worked were at restaurants, a jewelry store, and a butcher's shop.[9] This routine went on for four years until she landed her first major TV role.[3]

Career

Russell made her professional acting debut in 2012, with a small guest role in an episode of The CW medical drama series Emily Owens, M.D..[10] In 2014, she starred as Lark Voorhies in the Lifetime television film The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story,[11][12] and Jennifer in the Disney XD television film Pants on Fire.[13][14]

Russell made guest appearances in the CBC Television drama series Strange Empire (2015), the TNT science fiction series Falling Skies (2015), and the Freeform supernatural horror series Dead of Summer (2016).[10] She also had roles in the teen drama film Before I Fall (2017) and the supernatural horror film Down a Dark Hall (2018).[15]

In 2018, Russell earned recognition for her starring role as Judy Robinson in the science fiction series Lost in Space, a Netflix remake of the original 1965 series, for which she received critical praise and a nomination for the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Presentation.[16][17] Essence magazine stated that she "impresses in her role as a genius medic and doctor, who is compassionate and caring even in the face of danger."[18] The series concluded in December 2021, after three seasons.[19] On her ability to represent Black women in a science fiction series, Russell stated, "I know there are not a lot of women of color who are in the sci-fi genre and I feel really lucky that they chose me to hold that position on our show ... It's a huge honor for me and I don't take it lightly. It holds a really big place in my heart."[4]

In 2019, Russell had her film breakthrough with the leading role of Zoey Davis in the psychological horror film Escape Room, which was a major commercial success,[20] surpassing initial expectations and grossing $155.7 million.[21][22] Also in 2019, Russell garnered critical acclaim for her starring role in the drama film Waves, which was released by A24 Films on November 15, 2019.[23] IndieWire website dubbed her performance a "revelation",[24] going on to write that "While Waves is filled with excellent performances from its stacked cast, it's Russell that makes off with its most spectacular turn."[24] The Los Angeles Times called her and her co-star Kelvin Harrison Jr. "two of the fastest-rising stars of their generation."[25] For her performance in the film, Russell received the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Performer and the Virtuoso Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, among several others.[26][27]

Russell starred in Thor Freudenthal's romantic drama Words on Bathroom Walls (2020), alongside Charlie Plummer, Andy Garcia, and AnnaSophia Robb, which earned positive responses both from critics and audiences (89 and 94% "fresh", respectively, as of January 2022).[28] She also co-directed, wrote, and produced the documentary short film The Heart Still Hums, which earned acclaim and numerous awards, including the Palm Springs International ShortFest Award for Best Documentary Short.[29]

In 2021, Russell starred in the comedy-drama film Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets, and reprised the role of Zoey Davis in the Escape Room sequel Escape Room: Tournament of Champions,[30][31] which grossed $51.8 million.[32] Russell directed part of the music video for her Waves co-star Alexa Demie's "Leopard Limo (Archive LL11)", which also features her voice.[33] The following year, Russell starred alongside Timothée Chalamet in the romance horror film Bones and All, directed by Luca Guadagnino.[34] The film premiered at the 79th Venice Film Festival on September 2 to positive reviews.[35] Russell's performance in the film earned her widespread critical acclaim and the Marcello Mastroianni Award.[36][37]

In 2023, Russell began starring as Connie in the play The Effect by Lucy Prebble at the Royal National Theatre in London.[38]

Russell will next star in the comedy film Mother, Couch opposite Ewan McGregor. It is scheduled to be premiere at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).[39] She is set to appear in the thriller Hope, from director Na Hong-jin, alongside HoYeon Jung, Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander.[40]

Modeling

Russell made her modeling debut opening the SS23 Loewe show in 2022.[41] Creative director of the Spanish luxury brand Jonathan Anderson chose Russell after meeting her through mutual friend Luca Guadagnino. Anderson said of the decision: "It was the start of a very special friendship and I just thought, she has to open the show. I'm so proud she agreed."[42] In November 2022, she was named a Loewe Global Ambassador.[43] Russell has modeled in campaigns for Loewe,[44] Chanel,[45] BYRDIE,[46] and Prada.[47] She has appeared in the magazines V, W, Fantastic Man, HommeGirls, Vogue, Dazed, and Harper's Bazaar.[48] Following her red-carpet appearances on the Bones and All press tour, Vogue hailed her a "bold style renegade", writing "she’s in a total fashion league of her own, choosing unique looks that stray from the glitzy status quo."[49]

Personal life

Russell currently lives in Canada. She is a fan of Patti Smith, and has a small lightning bolt tattooed on her inner wrist, emulating the one Smith has on her knee.[3]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2013 If I Had Wings[50] Amy Conrad as Taylor Russell McKenzie
2015 Suspension[51] Carrie
2016 UNIT Bryan Robin Short film
2017 Before I Fall Ashley
2018 Down a Dark Hall Ashley
Hot Air[52] Tess
2019 Escape Room Zoey Davis
Waves Emily Williams
2020 Words on Bathroom Walls Maya Arnez
The Heart Still Hums None Documentary short film
Director, writer, and producer
2021 Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets Sophie
Escape Room: Tournament of Champions Zoey Davis
2022 Bones and All Maren Yearly
2023 Mother, Couch Bella Completed
TBA Hope TBA Korean film[53]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2012 Emily Owens, M.D. Mean Girl #1 Episode: "Emily and... the Outbreak"; as Taylor McKenzie
2013 Blink[54][55] Jessica[citation needed] Unsold television pilot
2014 The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story Lark Voorhies Television film; as Taylor Russell McKenzie
Pants on Fire Jennifer Television film
2015 Strange Empire Cassie 2 episodes
Falling Skies Evelyn 5 episodes
2016 Dead of Summer Laura Episode: "How to Stay Alive in the Woods"
2017 Sea Change CeCe Television film
2018–2021 Lost in Space Judy Robinson Main role; 28 episodes

Stage

Year Title Roles Notes
2023 The Effect Connie Lyttelton Theatre


Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2019 Saturn Award Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Presentation Lost in Space Nominated [56]
African-American Film Critics Association We See You Award Waves Won [57]
Chicago Film Critics Association Most Promising Performer Nominated [58]
Gotham Independent Film Award Breakthrough Actor Won [26]
Indiana Film Journalists Association Breakout of the Year Nominated [59]
Best Supporting Actress Nominated
2020 Black Reel Award Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female Nominated [60]
Outstanding Supporting Actress Nominated
Independent Spirit Award Best Supporting Female Nominated [61]
Georgia Film Critics Association Breakthrough Award Escape Room and Waves Nominated [62]
Hollywood Critics Association Star on the Rise Waves Won [63]
Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Breakthrough Performance - Actress Nominated
Latino Entertainment Journalists Association Best Supporting Actress Nominated [64]
Santa Barbara International Film Festival Virtuoso Award Won [27]
Seattle Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actress Nominated [65]
Atlanta Film Festival Best Documentary Short The Heart Still Hums Nominated [66]
BlackStar Film Festival Won [67]
Nashville Film Festival Won [68]
Palm Springs International ShortFest Won [69]
2022 Venice Film Festival Marcello Mastroianni Award Bones and All Won [70]
Gotham Independent Film Awards Outstanding Lead Performance Nominated [71]
Independent Spirit Awards Best Lead Performance Nominated [72]

References

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External links

Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Performer
Marcello Mastroianni Award
Authority control databases
Categories