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 Canadian actress and filmmaker. She became well-known for her role in the Netflix science fiction series Lost in Space (2018–2021). She also gained fame for her parts in the drama film Waves (2019) and the horror movie Escape Room (2019) and its sequel in 2021.

For her role in the film Bones and All (2022), she won the Marcello Mastroianni Award. This is a special award given at the Venice Film Festival for a young actor. Taylor also acted on stage in the play The Effect from 2023 to 2024. She co-directed a short documentary film in 2020 called The Heart Still Hums.

Early life and beginnings

Taylor Russell McKenzie was born on July 18, 1994. She grew up in a small community near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She lived in different cities like Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal as a child. Taylor has two brothers, one older and one younger.

Her mother is white and her father is Black, with roots in Jamaica. She spent most of her childhood with her mother's family. Her father's parents moved from Jamaica to England before he moved to Montreal. Taylor visited her grandparents in Montreal often.

Taylor shared that she sometimes felt different from her friends because of her skin color. Her family also moved many times, about sixteen times in total. This was because her parents faced money problems. Taylor started working when she was just 13 years old. Even with these challenges, she felt there was always a chance to try new things.

As a child, Taylor loved art. She wanted to be a ballet dancer and later a painter. When she was twelve, she learned to play the bass guitar. At thirteen, she sang a song by Destiny's Child in front of her whole school.

When Taylor was eighteen, she took her first acting class. This made her want to become an actress. She saved money from her jobs to buy a car. She would drive to Los Angeles for auditions. When her money ran out, she would go back home to work. She did this for four years until she got her first big TV role. She even worked at an Amazon warehouse. An accident gave her some insurance money, which she used to move to Los Angeles.

Acting career

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

She then had guest roles in several TV series. These included Strange Empire (2015), Falling Skies (2015), and Dead of Summer (2016). Taylor also acted in the teen drama film Before I Fall (2017) and the horror film Down a Dark Hall (2018).

Breaking through with Lost in Space

Russell at the 2018 WonderCon

In 2018, Taylor became widely known as Judy Robinson in the science fiction series Lost in Space. This show was a new version of a classic 1965 series. Critics praised her acting, and she was nominated for an award. Essence magazine said she was "impressive" as a smart and caring doctor.

The series ended in December 2021 after three seasons. Taylor felt honored to play a Black woman in a science fiction show. She said it was a "huge honor" and meant a lot to her.

Film success and awards

In 2019, Taylor had a big breakthrough in movies. She played Zoey Davis in the horror film Escape Room. This movie was very successful and made a lot of money. Also in 2019, she received great reviews for her role in the drama film Waves.

The IndieWire website called her performance in Waves "amazing." The Los Angeles Times said she and her co-star were "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.

In 2020, Taylor starred in the romantic drama Words on Bathroom Walls. This movie was well-liked by both critics and audiences. She also helped direct, write, and produce the short documentary film The Heart Still Hums. This film won several awards, including the Palm Springs International ShortFest Award for Best Documentary Short.

In 2021, Taylor was in the comedy-drama film Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets. She also returned as Zoey Davis in the Escape Room sequel, Escape Room: Tournament of Champions. The next year, Taylor starred with Timothée Chalamet in the romance horror film Bones and All. This movie was shown at the 79th Venice Film Festival and got very good reviews. Her performance in this film earned her the Marcello Mastroianni Award.

Stage work and future projects

In 2023, Taylor started acting in the play The Effect in London. The play later moved to New York City in 2024. Her performance in the play was highly praised. She was nominated for awards like the Evening Standard Theatre Awards and the WhatsOnStage Awards.

Taylor also starred in the comedy film Mother, Couch in 2023. She is set to appear in a thriller movie called Hope. In July 2024, she was chosen to be on a special jury at the Venice Film Festival.

The Heart Still Hums

The Heart Still Hums is a short documentary film. Taylor Russell co-directed it with Savanah Leaf. It was released in 2020. In 2021, it was decided that this short film would be made into a longer movie called Earth Mama.

Personal life

Taylor Russell lives in both New York and London. She is a big fan of the musician Patti Smith. Taylor has a small lightning bolt tattoo on her wrist, like one Patti Smith has. She calls Smith one of her heroes and has read her book Just Kids many times.

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, Taylor rented a harp and learned to play it. She is also trained in ballet and dances every morning. Her favorite book is By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept.

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage

Filmmaking credits

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Taylor Russell para niños