Taylor Russell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Taylor Russell
Russell in 2024
Born	Taylor Russell McKenzie (1994-07-18) July 18, 1994 (age 31) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2012–present

Taylor Russell McKenzie (born July 18, 1994) is a talented Canadian actress and filmmaker. She became well-known for her role as Judy Robinson in the exciting Netflix science fiction series Lost in Space, which aired from 2018 to 2021. Taylor also gained fame for her parts in the drama film Waves (2019) and the thrilling horror movie Escape Room (2019), as well as its sequel in 2021. In 2022, she starred in the road trip film Bones and All and won the prestigious Marcello Mastroianni Award for her performance. From 2023 to 2024, she also acted on stage in the play The Effect. Taylor co-directed a short documentary film in 2020 called The Heart Still Hums, alongside Savanah Leaf. This film later inspired a movie adaptation by Leaf, titled Earth Mama (2023).

Growing Up and Discovering Acting

Taylor Russell McKenzie was born on July 18, 1994, in Deep Cove, North Vancouver, Canada. She grew up in different cities like Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. Taylor has two brothers. Her mother is white, and her father is Black, with roots in Jamaica. Her father's parents moved from Jamaica to England, and her father later moved to Montreal. Taylor often visited her grandparents there.

Growing up, Taylor sometimes felt different from her friends. Her family moved many times because of her father's acting career. They also faced money challenges, and Taylor started working when she was just 13 years old to help out.

From a young age, Taylor loved art. She dreamed of becoming a ballet dancer or a painter. When she was twelve, she learned to play the bass guitar. At eighteen, Taylor took her first acting class and discovered her passion for performing.

She saved money from her jobs to buy a car. She would drive to Los Angeles for auditions. When her savings ran out, she would go back home to work at places like restaurants or a jewelry store. She repeated this routine for four years. Finally, she got her first big role on television. Before moving to Los Angeles, a small accident helped her get enough money to make the big move and chase her dreams.

Taylor's Acting Journey and Big Roles

Early Roles on TV and Film

Taylor Russell started her acting career in 2012 with a small part in a TV show called Emily Owens, M.D.. In 2014, she played Lark Voorhies in a TV movie called The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story. She also appeared in the Disney XD film Pants on Fire.

She continued to appear in various TV series. These included Strange Empire (2015), Falling Skies (2015), and Dead of Summer (2016). Taylor also acted in the teen drama movie Before I Fall (2017) and the spooky film Down a Dark Hall (2018).

Becoming a Star: Lost in Space and More

Taylor Russell at WonderCon in 2018.

In 2018, Taylor became widely recognized for her main role as Judy Robinson in the science fiction series Lost in Space. This Netflix show was a new version of a classic 1965 series. Critics praised her performance, and she was nominated for a Saturn Award. Essence magazine highlighted her as a "genius medic and doctor" who was "compassionate and caring." The series finished its three seasons in December 2021. Taylor shared that she felt very fortunate to represent Black women in the science fiction world.

In 2019, Taylor had a major breakthrough in movies. She starred as Zoey Davis in the thrilling film Escape Room. This movie was a big success, earning over $155 million worldwide. Also in 2019, she received great reviews for her role in the drama film Waves. The IndieWire website called her performance a "revelation." The Los Angeles Times even called her and her co-star Kelvin Harrison Jr. "two of the fastest-rising stars." For her work in Waves, Taylor won the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Performer. She also received the Virtuoso Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Taylor also appeared in the romantic drama Words on Bathroom Walls (2020). She acted alongside Charlie Plummer, Andy Garcia, and AnnaSophia Robb. This film was well-received by both critics and audiences. She also helped direct, write, and produce a short documentary film. This film, called The Heart Still Hums, won an award at the Palm Springs International ShortFest.

Taylor Russell at the Venice Film Festival in 2024.

In 2021, Taylor starred in the comedy-drama Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets. She also returned as Zoey Davis in the sequel Escape Room: Tournament of Champions, which earned $65.8 million. Taylor even directed part of a music video for her Waves co-star Alexa Demie. In 2022, she starred with Timothée Chalamet in the romance film Bones and All. This movie premiered at the 79th Venice Film Festival and received excellent reviews. Taylor's performance earned her the Marcello Mastroianni Award.

In 2023, Taylor began acting in the play The Effect in London. The play later moved to New York City in March 2024. She was nominated for awards for her role in the play, including at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards.

Taylor also starred in the comedy film Mother, Couch with Ewan McGregor. This film premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. She is also part of an upcoming thriller called Hope. In July 2024, she was invited to join the jury panel for the Best First Work at the Venice Film Festival.

The Heart Still Hums: A Documentary Film

The Heart Still Hums is a short documentary film. Taylor Russell co-directed it with Savanah Leaf. It was released on June 17, 2020. The film tells the stories of five women facing difficult challenges as they work to care for their children. In 2021, this short film was made into a longer movie called Earth Mama, with Savanah Leaf as the writer and director.

Taylor's Personal Life and Interests

Taylor Russell divides her time between New York and London. She is a big fan of the musician Patti Smith. Taylor has a small lightning bolt tattoo on her wrist, similar to one Patti Smith has. She considers Smith one of her heroes and has read Smith's book Just Kids many times.

Taylor is trained in ballet and enjoys dancing for 15 minutes every morning. Her favorite book is By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept by Elizabeth Smart. From June 2023 to May 2024, Taylor dated English singer Harry Styles.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theater

Filmmaking credits

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Taylor Russell para niños